“To cut costs, many organizations are going back to benefits consultants, saying ‘Tell us if we could do something different to save money,’” said Alanna Conte, senior consultant at Hay Group in New York. “It’s not an easy message to relay to employees. Many have not increased pay because of the economy.”

“It’s an issue across the board and a major concern of our members in every negotiation,” said Bernie Mulligan, spokesperson for the New York State Nurses Association, which narrowly averted strikes at St. Luke’s-Roosevelt Hospital Center and Mount Sinai Medical Center, both in Manhattan, with some creative solutions to address the issue. Learn more