Adecco Survey Finds that Benefits Influence Retirees Aged 55-70 to Return to Work; White Paper Detailing Survey Findings Available on www.usadecco.com/renaissance.

Business Editors

MELVILLE, N.Y.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 1, 2001

Adecco, the nation's leading provider of personnel services, today released the conclusions of the company's recent survey of mature workers. Among other findings, the Adecco survey shows that people aged 55-70 who are retired or semi-retired are more apt to return to the workforce through a temporary staffing service if they can participate in certain benefits programs.

Part of Adecco's commitment in serving its clients is to anticipate trends in the nation's employment outlook and use that knowledge to serve its clients in the best way possible. According to Debbie Pond-Heide, president of Adecco North America, "The company undertook this survey because a seasoned workforce can make significant contributions to employers and because mature workers represent an important new reserve of employees in the US, now and well into the future. According to US Census statistics, people over the age of 50 currently make up 28% of the US population. As the baby boomer generation ages, the percentage will rise to 42% by 2010."

In light of the tremendous pool of labor this group represents, Adecco sought to determine the factors that would most strongly influence the mature worker to remain part of the workforce.

Respondents who have returned to the workforce by registering with a temporary staffing service were asked their motivation for doing so. Eighty percent sought a flexible work schedule to go along with a more relaxed lifestyle, and the same percentage said that it's an easy and accessible means of gaining employment without fear of age discrimination. In addition, 70% cited it as a way to supplement income for living or leisure expenses, 60% answered that it provides a way of earning income with low stress levels, and 40% remarked that it's a means of staying active and current with society.

Of those survey respondents who had not worked with a temporary staffing service and who were told of the various reasons why mature men and women choose such an approach, 41% said that they would be more likely to consider temporary employment as a personal option.

Only 16% of the respondents, all of whom were retired or semi-retired from their primary career but were working in a full-time or part-time position, receive benefits from their current job. The benefits most often received are health insurance (11%), a pension plan or 401k (9%), and sick time (8%). While these figures are certainly low, even more telling is that none of the respondents received prescription coverage or short-term disability, and a mere 1% received holiday pay, vision coverage, or dependent life insurance. Other categories of benefits they receive include vacation (7%), dental insurance (6%), life insurance (4%) and personal time (3%).

A large majority of respondents were unaware that they may be eligible for a range of benefits if they work for Adecco or some of the other temporary staffing companies. For example, 92% were unaware that some staffing companies offer prescription coverage, vision coverage and life insurance; 87% didn't know that they could receive dental insurance and participate in a 401k program; 86% were unaware that short-term disability is available; 81% didn't know that they could receive personal time; and 79% were unaware that they could receive health insurance.

When informed that benefits may be available to them by working with a temporary staffing service, respondents were asked to weigh the importance of each benefit in their decision whether to work with such a company after retirement. According to the Adecco survey, the benefit most likely to influence retirees to work for a temporary staffing service is prescription coverage, which 61% of the respondents rated extremely or very important. Other benefits rated extremely or very important are health insurance (56%), vision coverage (55%), a 401k plan, sick time, holiday pay and dental insurance (50%) and short-term disability (48%).

Armed with the knowledge that benefits may be available to temporary workers, depending on the company they work with, the percentage of respondents who would seriously consider working for a temporary staffing service increased to 49%.

In another finding, 54% of respondents said that the law that has eliminated the earnings limit for those who receive Social Security would cause them to seriously consider working for a temporary staffing company.

About the Survey

A pre-qualified list of retirees was acquired and used as the sampling framework for computer-assisted telephone interviews conducted in the continental US in October 2000. The demographics of the sample show that 37% of respondents were 55-64 years old and 63% were 65-70. All interviewees considered themselves retired (40%) or semi-retired (60%) and worked outside the home in a permanent (66%) or temporary (34%) position. Of those who worked in a temporary position, 9% worked full time and 91% worked part time. The male/female ratio of interviewees was 30%/70%. The number of respondents who completed the survey is 100, resulting in sufficient data to serve as a preliminary indicator of the target audience market.

About Adecco

Adecco SA is the global leader in personnel services, connecting more than 700,000 temporary associates with businesses each day through a network of over 30,000 employees and over 5,000 offices in 58 countries around the world. Headquartered in Switzerland, and managed by a multinational team with expertise in markets spanning the globe, Adecco delivers an unparalleled range of flexible staffing and career resources to corporate clients and qualified associates.

Adecco provides clients with staffing services and solutions covering all major industries as well as specific professions. The worldwide Adecco brand network focuses on global industries in transition, including automotive, banking, electronics, logistics, and telecommunications.

Adecco North America serves more than 37,000 clients a year through 2,000 points of sales and service in every state and seven Canadian provinces. With headquarters in Melville, NY, Adecco North America employs about 5,000 full time employees and places more than 160,000 temporary associates each week.

Adecco SA is listed on The Swiss Exchange (ADECCO N (ADEN 700'939)), NYSE (ADO), the Bourse de Paris (RM 12819). Further information can be found at www.adecco.com.