The Principal 10 Best Companies-2004 Benefits At-A-Glance

Medical Coverage

100 percent of The Principal 10 Best Companies - 2004 offer medical insurance.
All 10 companies pay at least 80 percent of an employee's medical insurance; seven pay 90 percent or more and five of the 10 companies pay 100 percent of the premium.
Eight of the 10 companies pay 80 percent or more of dependents' premiums.
Nine of the 10 companies offer medical insurance and/or prescription drug coverage to their retired employees. The Principal 10 Best Companies share significantly in the costs of health care insurance. This year's winners have invested heavily in wellness programs for their employees, which include increasing education about cost, value and the proper use of health care services.

Retirement Plans

All 10 companies offer two or more retirement plans (including Profit Sharing Plans or ESOPs).
Of the nine companies offering a 401(k) or 403(b) retirement plan.
The average employee participation rate was 90.7 percent.
All nine provide match to employee 401(k) contributions. Employer matches ranged from 3 to 6 percent of deferred salary.
The average deferral rate is 7.8 percent.

Insurance Coverage

Average Voluntary Turnover Rate: Eight percent, well below the national average of 21 percent.

Training and Development

90 percent of the companies offer inside development opportunities for employees.
100 percent of the companies offer outside development opportunities for employees.
90 percent of the companies offer tuition reimbursement for employees.

Benefit Communication Methods