The Bermuda Employers Council (BEC) is surveying its 400 members plus companies not yet signed up as it seeks statistics to help it lobby on policy.

The Employment Conditions and Benefits Survey 2008 is designed to gauge current practices and detect changes in conditions and benefits offered by employers.

This survey was last conducted in 2004 so an update is needed to assess the current environment.

The updated survey includes questions on hiring and retention incentives as well as questions relating to the employment of older workers, leave to care for elderly or sick family members and general health and wellness.

BEC executive director Martin Law wrote to companies: "We believe these are emerging areas of concern and our intention is to determine employers' actual practices and potential for change in these areas.

"As well as providing information of real value to employers, there are questions in the survey that will give information of significant importance for the wider community.

"In order to get as great a response as possible, we intend to open the survey to non member companies in this instance."

Members who complete the survey will receive a free copy of the results and those who do not take part will be charged $750 as will non-BEC members.