One aspect of our total compensation package (what we earn at work) that is often overlooked in value is the package of benefits we receive from our employer. Insurance and paid leave can oftentimes equal more then 35% of our total compensation. The following article discusses some of the trends in the costs of benefits over the last 2 years. Read it and provide some thoughts on how you think these trends have affected our overall economic well-being (think unemployment, wage rates, etc.) in recent years. Do you think that if the trends were different that we might be in a different economic situation? If so, how?