WASHINGTON, DC -November 7, 2013
Bill Wiatrowski, Associate Commissioner of the www.bls.gov [U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics], is offering a complimentary webinar titled “Employment-based Health Benefits in Small and Large Private Establishments” on Thursday, November 7, 2013, at noon, EST. Those interested in registering for the webinar may do so by clicking on the session title above. The presentation is based in part on a recent “Beyond the Numbers”, a BLS publication that focuses on individual topics. In addition to discussing trends in health benefits among private establishments, Mr. Wiatrowski will demonstrate how to access the data (free of charge).
The national debate over health reform in recent years has brought with it many stories of individuals without sufficient health care coverage for a variety of reasons. According to Mr. Wiatrowski, “One area where disparity in coverage and plan features currently exists is between smaller and larger establishments. Data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) illuminate these differences.”
The presentation will include data on health benefit availability, coverage and take-up rates, costs of benefits, and plan provisions.
About Bill Wiatrowski
Bill Wiatrowski heads up the BLS Office of Compensation and Working Conditions, which provides information on employee wages and benefits and work-related fatal injuries and non-fatal injuries and illnesses.
Mr. Wiatrowski graduated from Yale University and received a master’s of Business Administration degree from George Washington University. He is the author of numerous articles on benefits, compensation, and safety and health issues and speaks on these topics before a wide variety of audiences.
About the Bureau of Labor Statistics
The Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor is the principal federal agency responsible for measuring labor market activity, working conditions, and price changes in the economy. Its mission is to collect, analyze, and disseminate essential economic information to support public and private decision-making. As an independent statistical agency, BLS serves its diverse user communities by providing products and services that are objective, timely, accurate, and relevant.
About the National Compensation Survey
The www.bls.gov/ncs [National Compensation Survey] is an ongoing comprehensive employer-based survey of approximately 10,600 establishments conducted by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. NCS is an umbrella program that produces data on several topics including benefits, wages, and compensation cost trends. One of its outputs–the Employment Cost Index (ECI)–is a principal federal economic indicator. The ECI measures the percent change in the cost of wages and benefits. Another output is the Employer Costs for Employee Compensation (ECEC). The ECEC provides costs for wages and individual benefits on a cost per hour worked basis. In addition to the reports and websites mentioned in this release, two BLS publications–the “Monthly Labor Review” and “Beyond the Numbers”–provide articles on various topics including health and retirement benefits.