Company benefit changes over the years

While considering employment there are many factors at work, a lot has changed
it seems since the 80’s for sure, back when
Dental insurance was more common and much better than some of the cheap dental
plans that anyone can get for about $30 per
month, Pension’s are probably the rarity these days with 401K/7 year vested being common, Insurance for a family can be expensive depending who you work for, vision plans or insurance , long & short term
disability from a strong reputable company, full or half days travel & expenses , training
& credential expense, lots to consider &
lookout for such as some smaller companies with very few benefits offering poor & expensive insurance with not much else
almost to avoid paying trip pilot rates it seems in the name of steady employment,
basically asking what have you guys seen
change for the good or bad that has crept
in or out of your overall benefits from when you started in the industry?

From my perspective, its only getting worse not better. There’s always going to be some give and take.

Affordable family insurance WITH a low deductible AND life insurance AND a good match on a 401k with immediate vesting…can anyone working for any boat company or sailing with a union check all those boxes?

3 Likes

Early in my career I had real top notch dental insurance, over the years it seems a lot of companies have adapted to these Mickey
Mouse dental plans that an individual could
purchase online for probably the same price
as the company sponsored plan, same with
vision. Probably a lot of the younger guys
have only seen these plans which looks
like clickbait when looking at a company
hiring ad.

Yes.

I have worked for companies with no benefits, some benefits, and extensive benefits that include just about everything.

On the list of everything:

1 full day rate (12 hours) while traveling;
2 fully paid travel including airfare and baggage with decent seats, uber, taxi, bus, meals; and hotels;
3 - 11 holidays at double time;
4 two weeks paid vacation (to start) at full day rate;
5 signing bonus;
6 401k with good match
7 real defined benefit pension plan
8 bonuses
9 good fully paid health insurance
10. Short term and long term disability insurance
11. License insurance
12. Working over pay (I hear that this is common in some places).

3 Likes

Don’t forget working over pay, especially
when it is not desired, lots of companies
see it as a favor and wear it out, the same
as getting called back days early, which
at the very least is worth temp/trip pilot
pay & the same as paying a hiring agency
the $1,200 per day rate(if that is still what it
is).