1) Chapter 12 discusses various reasons for the historical growth in the size of benefits packages. Address these questions: Which of these reasons still affects the growth of employee benefits today? Which actually might be current reasons for declines in the size of benefit packages?
2) Describe how a benefits program might increase worker attraction, retention, and motivation. Which feature of a benefits program might be more attractive to you now, and why? Which feature of a benefits program would be least attractive to you now, and why? Are your views about the most and least attractive features of a benefits program likely to change over time, and why?
3) As HR director at Crangle Fixtures, your bonus this year is based on your abilty to cut employee benefit costs. Your boss has said it’s okay to shift some of the costs over to employees (right now they pay nothing for their benefits), but that he doesn’t want you to overdo it. In other words, at least one-half of your suggestions should not hurt the employee’s pocket book. What alternatives do you want to explore and why?
