A recent survey finds more employers are asking workers to beara greater share of the cost for their employer-sponsored benefitsto help mitigate the effects of a down economy.

The survey from Colonial Life & Accident Insurance Companyfound nearly half of the employee benefits broker respondents saytheir employer clients are increasing the amount employeescontribute for benefits.

Economy's Effects on Benefits

Almost 60 percent of survey respondents say they've addedvoluntary benefits options for employers, and almost half sayemployers increased employee contributions. Here are the waysbrokers say the economy has affected the benefits they offerclients:

• Added voluntary benefits options - 59 percent
• Increased employee contributions - 48 percent
• Added benefits options - 35 percent
• Added a health savings account - 29 percent
• Switched carriers - 28 percent
• Reduced benefits options - 27 percent
• Added a high-deductible health plan option with an healthreimbursement account - 26 percent
• Increased employer contributions - 10 percent
• No change - 9 percent

"More employee benefits brokers are realizing the solutionsvoluntary benefits can bring," says Jay Hutchins, vice president ofbroker marketing at Colonial Life. "By adding voluntary benefits totheir agency's portfolios, they can help business owners bettermanage their benefits program budgets and still offer a variety ofbenefits to meet employees' individual needs."

Importance of Voluntary Benefits

Eight in 10 brokers surveyed say voluntary benefits are veryimportant to the overall benefits package they offer businessowners:

• Very important - 80 percent
• Somewhat important - 17 percent
• Not important - 3 percent

"Clearly, voluntary benefits have become a key part of thesolutions brokers take to their business-owner clients," Hutchinssays. "Years ago, voluntary benefits were considered as nice tohave, but today, they've become an integral part ofcompany-provided benefits plans."