• Nearly one-fourth (23%) of retail workers do not have insurance benefits available through their employer, significantly more than any other industry sector.
• 35% of retail employees are not very/not at all satisfied with their overall benefits package; another 30% say they are only somewhat satisfied.
• Highest among employees of all industries, 33% of retail employees say their current benefits package does not meet their family’s needs very well/at all well; another 28% say it meets their needs only somewhat well. 
• Retail employees are more likely to say that their benefits package is slightly/significantly less competitive than that of their peers (46% compared to 32% of employees overall).

• 45% agree that a well-communicated benefits program would make them less likely to leave their job.
• 33% believe their HR department communicates not very/not at all effectively about employer benefits; another 40% say their communications are only somewhat effective.
• 70% say their HR department only communicates about benefits at open enrollment or at new hire enrollment; another 16% say their HR department communicated with them about employee benefits only twice last year, the least of companies in all industry sectors. 
• 32% get their benefits advice and information by word of mouth from colleagues, friends and/or family.
• 23% believe their HR department is not very/not at all knowledgeable about benefits; another 30% say their HR department is only somewhat knowledgeable.
• 24% say they are not very/not at all informed about benefits offered at their company; an additional 42% say they are only somewhat informed.

• When asked if they need to be more engaged in making health insurance coverage decisions, 43% say they strongly or somewhat agree they need to be more engaged, more so than any other industry sector.
• 55% agree they would be more informed about their health insurance choices if an insurance consultant were present during enrollment.
• 67% agree that they would be more likely to take advantage of a benefits package tailored to their personal situation.

• 65% say they are not very/not at all prepared to pay out-of-pocket expenses that aren’t covered by major medical/health insurance.
• Exactly half (50%) say they have less than $500 available to pay out-of-pocket expenses associated with a serious illness or accident; 68% have less than $1,000 to pay out-of-pocket expenses. 
• 23% have experienced a health issue that affected their ability to get work done; 48% say having adequate insurance coverage would significantly affect their ability to cope with personal issues.
• 16% of employees estimate that more than 30% of work productivity is lost due to concerns about personal/health issues.

• Just 41% say their employer offers voluntary benefits, and only 31% are enrolled through their employer.
• 25% say they would be extremely/very likely to purchase voluntary insurance benefits offered by their employer; another 35% say they are somewhat likely.
• 29% say the addition of voluntary insurance benefits to their insurance package would give them more options when it comes to health care coverage; 29% say the voluntary coverage would help them meet their needs; 31% say voluntary benefits would give them more comprehensive insurance coverage.
• 19%, the highest among employees in all industries, say their HR department is not very/not at all knowledgeable about voluntary benefits; another 44% rate their HR representatives as only somewhat knowledgeable.

The 2012 Aflac WorkForces Report was conducted January 24–February 23, 2012, by Research Now on behalf of Aflac.