News You Can Use: Credit crunch could squeeze benefits

A new national survey by Grant Thornton LLP reveals that 55% of CFOs say they have seen credit costs increase, and 64% have found credit more difficult to come by than one year ago.

As a result, nearly one-quarter (23%) expect their employee rolls to decrease over the next six months, and 55% name benefits costs as their top concern.

While benefit managers can't control the financial crisis, and shrinking availability of credit as a result, you can stand and make the case to their CFOs that trimming benefits may do more harm than good. To help you effectively speak financial-ese, read current coverage in EBN.