What's being offered? Annual survey of Indiana employee pay and benefits.

• Author: McKimmie, Kathy
• Position: EMPLOYEE BENEFITS

Mention employee benefits, and health care immediately comes to mind. It's a natural reaction because it's the elephant in the benefit package that packs on more weight each year. It's cold comfort knowing it gained a little less this year than last.

Although the rate of increase has gone down for the sixth straight year, says Amy Kaminski, manager of marketing programs for Kansas-based Compdata Surveys, it's still double-digit, with an average health insurance premium increase for Indiana employers at 11.8 percent in 2007. That's higher than all surrounding states.

Compdata has been providing pay and benefit survey information since 1988, and now covers 39 states. Its 2007 Compensation Data--Indiana survey, covering 450 employers and 284,000 employees in 532 job titles, provides a good source of information about what the other guy is doing to attract and retain the best employees.

Paychecks. Pay in Indiana increased an average of 3.48 percent for 2007 with a projection of 3.46 percent in 2008. That's up from 3.4 percent in 2006. The highest increase in 2007 was with service organizations, 4.1 percent, the lowest in utilities at 3.06 percent. Despite reported worker shortages, total pay increase budgets in the health-care sector average 3.33 percent this year. By region, Indianapolis leads with 3.72 percent in 2007, with the same projected for 2008. Kokomo came in lowest this year at 3.11 percent, but employers in Bloomington/ Columbus project the lowest increase for next year at 3.17 percent.

Across all industries, regions and sizes of employer companies, CEO base salaries on average were $303,082, while administrative assistants made $33,496. "Top engineering executives" averaged $148,582 and CAD draftspersons drew $35,293. "Top marketing executives" were paid $142,564 on average and inside sales representatives: $40,313.

Time off. Extra vacation time is offered as a recruiting tactic by 15.3 percent of the Indiana organizations surveyed this year, remaining steady, and flexible scheduling is another way to attract employees and keep them employees happy The survey shows 52.7 percent of companies allow flexible schedules, and they are used most for technical/ professional employees, 39.6 percent.

"As Gen Y enters the work force, many companies are looking for new ways to recruit top talent," says Kaminski. "Offering extra vacation time in the recruiting process and allowing flexible schedules are two practices that appeal to this group."

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