'33% of workers don't get pension or PRSA from employer'

In a new survey published today by leading recruitment website RecruitIreland.com over a third said that they are not provided with a pension or PRSA by their employer.

The survey also highlights the ongoing love affair between Irish workers and their cars and the dedicated nature of Irish workers, the majority of whom eat their lunch at their desks.

On a healthy note, gym membership is the perk of choice for Irish workers yet this perk is available to just 13%.

Over 470 Irish workers from all over the country responded to the RecruitIreland.com Lifestyle Poll.

Regarding employee benefits, the pension’s time bomb continues to tick with over 33% of respondents stating that a pension or PRSA is not provided by their employer.

However, 51% are provided with private health insurance.

When asked, 62% also said they would like to have a dental care plan provided as a perk. This is just marginally below gym membership, which at 65% would be the perk of choice for a majority of workers if it were available. Only 13%are actually offered gym membership.

On commuting issues, over 60% said they use their car to get to work despite the lack of parking and the reported gridlock on Irish roads.

While fewer than 50% of respondents had a maximum commuting distance of just 5 to 6 miles, two wheeled transport was the least favoured commuting solution.

Just 15 people out of 470 said they used a bicycle to get to work and only 5 use a motorcycle.

More than a quarter of Irish workers eat their lunch at their desk with 67% spending between €2 and €6 per day on lunch.

Most Dubliners also pay between 30% to 50% more for a sandwich as compared to workers in other Irish cities.

In work canteens, healthy options are par for the course with a massive 70% of respondents saying that healthy options are available in their work canteens.

In canteens with no healthy options, 84% said that they would like to see healthy options on the menu.

With a majority rarely eating outside the home, meal preparation times remain short with 60% spending just 20-40 minutes preparing their main evening meal.

There was overwhelming endorsement of the ban on smoking in the workplace with 87% satisfied with how the ban is being implemented.

Among smoking respondents, 36% have stated that the implementation of the smoking ban has encouraged them to give up smoking.

Speaking about the survey results today, Sinead Johnson of RecruitIreland.com said: “Overall the statistics seem to point to a healthy outlook among Irish workers with large numbers choosing healthy meal options in staff canteens.

“The fact that the majority favoured gym membership as the perk of choice is also very interesting. Especially in light of the announcement by the Minister for Health that the Government does not intend to provide tax breaks for employers to purchase gym equipment for staff.

“But perhaps the most interesting result is in relation to the provision of pensions and PRSA’s.

“The fact that over one third of the 470 respondents from across the country stated that neither a pension or PRSA is offered, suggests either widespread breaches of the applicable PRSA legislation or high levels of confusion about the availability of such products.

“Either way, the issue should be a cause of concern for both employers and financial services providers and regulators.”