U.S. Office of Personnel Management - Ensuring the Federal Government has an effective civilian workforce
Surveys
2004 OPM Benefits Survey Results
"This Administration is dedicated to ensuring that the resources entrusted to the Federal government are well managed and wisely used. We owe that to the American people. " — George W. Bush |
 |
- 2004 Benefits Survey - Purpose
- Survey Instrument
- Survey Sampling
- Survey Administration
- Demographic Representation
- Please Indicate the Extent to Which Each of the Currently Available Benefits is Important to You to Remain in or Accept Federal Employment. (All Employees)
- Please Indicate the Extent to Which Each of the Currently Available Benefits Meet Your and Your Family's Needs. (All Employees)
- Considering the Amount You Have to Pay, How Would You Rate the Value of Each of the Currently Available Benefits? (All Employees)
- How Competitive is Each of the Currently Available Benefits in Comparison to Benefits Offered to Other (non-Federal) Employees Whose Work is Similar to Yours? (All Employees)
- Importance of Benefits to Remain in or Accept Federal Employment: Current Employees/New Hires
- Employee/Family Needs: Current/New Hires
- Perceived Value of Benefits for the Money: Current/New Hires
- Perceived Competitiveness of Benefits Compared to Non-Federal Employee Benefits: Current/New Hires (Continued)
2004 Benefits Survey - Purpose
- OPM is the Executive Branch agency with primary responsibility for the Federal Government's human capital management policy and structure.
- As part of its mission, OPM administers employee benefits programs for Federal agencies.
- The purpose of the Benefits Survey is to determine employee attitudes about the importance, adequacy, value and competitiveness of the benefits programs.
- Two survey instruments were used
- New employees (employed less than three years)
- Current employees (employed more than three years)
Survey Instrument
The survey focused on ten benefits programs:
- Employee health benefits
- Retirement annuity
- Thrift Savings Plan
- Retiree health benefits
- Life insurance
- Long term care insurance
- Flexible Spending Accounts
- Telework
- Child care subsidy
- Health and wellness programs
Survey Sampling
- Final sample: 2,416 Federal employees
- 1,172 new hires (with less than 3 years of Federal service)
- 1,244 current employees (with 3 or more years of Federal service)
- Goal of 2,400 sampled employees was met
Survey Administration
- Six-week administration period ending January 8, 2005
- 100% Web-based administration
- 508-compliant Web versions made available
- Response Rate (based on valid e-mail addresses)
- 856 valid responses out of 2,416 sampled (35%)
- 366 new hires out of 1,172 sampled (31%)
- 490 current employees out of 1,244 sampled (39%)
- Overall margin of error: +/- 3%
- New hires: +/- 4%
- Current employees: +/- 3%
Demographic Representation
AGE
|
Survey Sample |
Federal Civilian Population (CPDF) |
|---|---|---|
Age 18-24 Years |
3% |
4% |
Age 25-34 Years |
16% |
13% |
Age 35-44 Years |
26% |
26% |
Age 45-54 Years |
36% |
35% |
Age 55-64 Years |
16% |
20% |
Age 65+ Years |
2% |
2% |
GENDER AND LENGTH OF SERVICE
|
Survey Sample |
Federal Civilian Population (CPDF) |
|---|---|---|
Male |
59% |
55% |
Female |
41% |
45% |
Less than 3 Years |
43% |
16% |
3 Years or More |
57% |
84% |
Please Indicate the Extent to Which Each of the Currently Available Benefits is Important to You to Remain in or Accept Federal Employment. (All Employees)
|
Very Important |
Somewhat Important |
Not Important |
|---|---|---|---|
2 Retirement Annuity |
91% |
7% |
2% |
3 Thrift Savings Plan |
89% |
7% |
4% |
1 Employee Health Benefit |
89% |
6% |
5% |
4 Retiree Health Benefit |
87% |
8% |
5% |
5 Life Insurance |
71% |
20% |
10% |
6 Long Term Care Ins. |
63% |
24% |
13% |
10 Health and Wellness Program |
53% |
24% |
23% |
7 Flexible Spending Account |
45% |
32% |
23% |
8 Telework |
40% |
23% |
37% |
9 Child Care Subsidy |
31% |
17% |
51% |
Items 1-10
Please Indicate the Extent to Which Each of the Currently Available Benefits Meet Your and Your Family's Needs. (All Employees)
|
Great or Moderate Extent |
Slight Extent |
Not Adequate |
Don't Know |
Not Available in Agency |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
26 Emp. Health Benefit |
84% |
7% |
4% |
6% |
0% |
28 Thrift Savings Plan |
82% |
9% |
1% |
8% |
0% |
30 Life Insurance |
64% |
18% |
6% |
13% |
0% |
27 Retirement Annuity |
61% |
12% |
5% |
22% |
0% |
29 Retiree Health Benefits |
54% |
11% |
3% |
32% |
0% |
35 Health and Wellness Program |
45% |
22% |
9% |
24% |
0% |
31 Long Term Care Insurance |
39% |
17% |
7% |
38% |
0% |
32 Flexible Spending Account |
30% |
17% |
3% |
45% |
4% |
33 Telework |
18% |
11% |
7% |
31% |
34% |
34 Child Care Subsidy |
9% |
7% |
4% |
65% |
16% |
Items 26-35
Considering the Amount You Have to Pay, How Would You Rate the Value of Each of the Currently Available Benefits? (All Employees)
|
Excellent or Good Value |
Fair Value |
Least Value |
Don't Know |
|---|---|---|---|---|
38 Thrift Savings Plan |
74% |
17% |
1% |
8% |
36 Employment Health Benefits |
58% |
25% |
10% |
7% |
40 Life Insurance |
46% |
28% |
10% |
15% |
37 Retirement Annuity |
45% |
22% |
7% |
27% |
39 Retiree Health Benefits |
34% |
16% |
5% |
45% |
41 Long-Term Care Insurance |
18% |
17% |
7% |
57% |
Items 36-41
How Competitive is Each of the Currently Available Benefits in Comparison to Benefits Offered to Other (non-Federal) Employees Whose Work is Similar to Yours? (All Employees)
|
Very or Moderately Competitive |
Slightly Competitive |
Not as Competitive |
Don't Know |
|---|---|---|---|---|
44 Thrift Savings Plan |
66% |
13% |
2% |
19% |
42 Employment Health Benefits |
57% |
19% |
8% |
16% |
43 Retirement Annuity |
45% |
16% |
7% |
32% |
46 Life Insurance |
44% |
21% |
9% |
27% |
45 Retiree Health Benefits |
40% |
11% |
5% |
45% |
51 Health and Wellness Program |
33% |
17% |
11% |
40% |
48 Flexible Spending Account |
29% |
13% |
3% |
56% |
47 Long Term Care Insurance |
21% |
16% |
4% |
59% |
49 Telework |
16% |
9% |
19% |
56% |
50 Child Care Subsidy |
9% |
6% |
9% |
77% |
Items 42-51
Importance of Benefits to Remain in or Accept Federal Employment: Current Employees/New Hires
Current Employees
|
Very Important or Important |
Somewhat Important |
Not as Important |
|---|---|---|---|
2 Retirement Annuity |
93% |
6% |
1% |
3 Thrift Savings Plan |
88% |
8% |
4% |
1 Emp. Health Benefit |
93% |
4% |
2% |
4 Retiree Health Benefit |
93% |
5% |
2% |
5 Life Insurance |
69% |
22% |
9% |
6 Long Term Care Insurance |
64% |
23% |
13% |
10 Health and Wellness Program |
54% |
25% |
21% |
7 Flexible Spending Account |
49% |
28% |
23% |
8 Telework |
45% |
22% |
32% |
9 Child Care Subsidy |
82% |
17% |
51% |
New Employees
|
Very Important or Important |
Somewhat Important |
Not as Important |
|---|---|---|---|
2 Retirement Annuity |
87% |
9% |
4% |
3 Thrift Savings Plan |
91% |
5% |
4% |
1 Emp. Health Benefit |
84% |
9% |
8% |
4 Retiree Health Benefit |
79% |
13% |
8% |
5 Life Insurance |
73% |
17% |
11% |
6 Long Term Care Insurance |
62% |
26% |
12% |
10 Health and Wellness Program |
51% |
23% |
26% |
7 Flexible Spending Account |
40% |
37% |
23% |
8 Telework |
34% |
24% |
42% |
9 Child Care Subsidy |
80% |
18% |
52% |
Employee/Family Needs: Current/New Hires
Current Employees
|
Great Extent or Moderate Extent |
Slight Extent |
Not Adequate |
Don't Know |
Not Available |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
26 Employment Health Benefits |
88% |
6% |
4% |
3% |
0% |
28 Thrift Savings Plan |
80% |
11% |
2% |
8% |
0% |
30 Life Insurance |
62% |
19% |
7% |
13% |
0% |
27 Retirement Annuity |
62% |
12% |
5% |
21% |
0% |
29 Retiree Health Benefits |
60% |
10% |
2% |
27% |
0% |
35 Health and Wellness Program |
46% |
22% |
8% |
24% |
0% |
31 Long Term Care Insurance |
39% |
17% |
7% |
38% |
0% |
32 Flexible Spending Account |
30% |
17% |
2% |
46% |
6% |
33 Telework |
19% |
11% |
7% |
27% |
35% |
34 Child Care Subsidy |
8% |
7% |
4% |
63% |
18% |
New Employees
|
Great Extent or Moderate Extent |
Slight Extent |
Not Adequate |
Don't Know |
Not Available |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
26 Employment Health Benefits |
78% |
9% |
4% |
9% |
0% |
28 Thrift Savings Plan |
86% |
6% |
1% |
7% |
0% |
30 Life Insurance |
65% |
17% |
5% |
13% |
0% |
27 Retirement Annuity |
59% |
12% |
5% |
23% |
0% |
29 Retiree Health Benefits |
46% |
13% |
3% |
38% |
0% |
35 Health and Wellness Program |
44% |
21% |
11% |
24% |
0% |
31 Long Term Care Insurance |
38% |
18% |
6% |
38% |
0% |
32 Flexible Spending Account |
31% |
17% |
5% |
47% |
3% |
33 Telework |
25% |
14% |
9% |
52% |
46% |
34 Child Care Subsidy |
12% |
8% |
5% |
75% |
15% |
Perceived Value of Benefits for the Money: Current/New Hires
Current Employees
|
Great Extent or Moderate Extent |
Slight Extent |
Not Adequate |
Don't Know |
|---|---|---|---|---|
38 Thrift Savings Plan |
73% |
16% |
1% |
10% |
36 Employee Health Benefit |
64% |
24% |
8% |
4% |
40 Life Insurance |
41% |
32% |
13% |
15% |
37 Retirement Annuity |
48% |
21% |
7% |
25% |
41 Long-Term Care Insurance |
18% |
18% |
7% |
57% |
New Employees
|
Great Extent or Moderate Extent |
Slight Extent |
Not Adequate |
Don't Know |
|---|---|---|---|---|
38 Thrift Savings Plan |
76% |
17% |
1% |
6% |
36 Employee Health Benefit |
50% |
26% |
12% |
12% |
40 Life Insurance |
54% |
23% |
6% |
17% |
37 Retirement Annuity |
41% |
23% |
7% |
29% |
41 Long-Term Care Insurance |
18% |
17% |
8% |
57% |
Perceived Competitiveness of Benefits Compared to Non-Federal Employee Benefits: Current/New Hires (Continued)
Current Employees
|
Very Competitive or Moderately Competitive |
Slightly Competitive |
Not Competitive |
Don't Know |
|---|---|---|---|---|
44 Thrift Savings Plan |
63% |
13% |
2% |
22% |
42 Employment Health Benefit |
60% |
18% |
7% |
16% |
43 Retirement Annuity |
47% |
15% |
7% |
32% |
46 Life Insurance |
40% |
22% |
11% |
28% |
45 Retiree Health Benefits |
42% |
12% |
4% |
41% |
51 Health and Wellnes Program |
31% |
18% |
10% |
41% |
48 Flexible Spending Account |
26% |
13% |
3% |
58% |
47 Long-Term Care Insurance |
20% |
16% |
4% |
60% |
49 Telework |
16% |
10% |
20% |
54% |
50 Child Care Subsidy |
7% |
6% |
10% |
77% |
New Employees
|
Very Competitive or Moderately Competitive |
Slightly Competitive |
Not Competitive |
Don't Know |
|---|---|---|---|---|
44 Thrift Savings Plan |
69% |
13% |
2% |
16% |
42 Employment Health Benefit |
55% |
21% |
9% |
15% |
43 Retirement Annuity |
43% |
17% |
7% |
33% |
46 Life Insurance |
48% |
20% |
6% |
26% |
45 Retiree Health Benefits |
36% |
11% |
5% |
49% |
51 Health and Wellnes Program |
35% |
16% |
11% |
38% |
48 Flexible Spending Account |
32% |
13% |
2% |
53% |
47 Long-Term Care Insurance |
21% |
15% |
4% |
59% |
49 Telework |
16% |
8% |
18% |
58% |
50 Child Care Subsidy |
11% |
6% |
7% |
77% |
U.S. Office of Personnel Management 1900 E Street NW, Washington, DC 20415 | (202) 606-1800 | TTY (202) 606-2532