A survey of contract and freelance IT professionals shows healthcare and 401k plans are the most-missed perks of traditional employment, while there are many things they don't miss at all. What would you miss most about “traditional,” 9-to-5, office employment? According to a survey released today, the top three most-missed benefits and perks among independent IT pros are health insurance, brainstorming with colleagues, and 401K matching.Surprisingly (or perhaps not), not many people missed the company holiday party or formal performance reviews, according to the survey, conducted by IT staffing and Workforce-as-a-Service firm OnForce, with 19 percent ranking formal performance reviews and 17 percent ranking the holiday party among the top two and three least missed aspects, respectively, according to the survey.The Changing Face of ITOnForce surveyed 1,337 anonymous, independent IT service professionals throughout the United States ranging in age from 21 to over 60, and found that 37 percent of respondents missed employee-provided health insurance, 30 percent listed brainstorming with colleagues as a benefit they missed, and 20 percent answered that they missed their former employers’ 401k matching plans.OnForce’s CEO, Peter Cannone, says the results are in line with what he sees as the changing face of the current IT workforce, and that the results of the survey have broad implications outside the IT industry and beyond the pool of independent IT professionals. “When you consider that 50 percent of today’s workforce will join the ranks of the self-employed by the year 2020, and that 60 percent of IT service professionals willingly left full-time jobs to be their own boss, it’s important for companies to understand the current needs of full-time and contract employees if they want to remain competitive,” Cannone says, citing research obtained by OnForce.The survey also revealed that different age groups are concerned with different benefits and perks. Of the 37 percent of respondents that ranked health insurance as the most missed benefit, most fell into the 40-49 year age bracket, while 10 percent are aged 50-59, 9 percent are aged 30-39, 3 percent are aged 21-29 and over 60 years of age. While health insurance and 401K plans are still a top priority among the workforce, the survey also showed that social and professional development in the workplace are extremely important, especially to those that fall between ages 40 and 49. Yet, according to the survey, that same demographic rated the company holiday party and formal performance reviews one of the least-missed aspects of ‘traditional’ work life. But there’s one aspect of traditional, full-time employment that remains almost universally reviled, regardless of demographic: commuting; 38 percent of all respondents, regardless of age group, cited this as their least-missed aspect of ‘traditional’ employment. You can see more about the survey here.Sharon Florentine covers IT careers and data center topics for CIO.com. Follow Sharon on Twitter @MyShar0na. Email her at sflorentine@cio.com Follow everything from CIO.com on Twitter @CIOonline and on Facebook. Related content brandpost Sponsored by Rocket Software Why data virtualization is critical for business success Data is your most valuable resource—but only if you can access it fast enough to address present challenges. Data virtualization is the key. By Milan Shetti, CEO of Rocket Software Nov 28, 2023 4 mins Digital Transformation brandpost Sponsored by Rocket Software The hybrid approach: Get the best of both mainframe and cloud Cloud computing and modernization often go hand in hand, but that doesn’t mean the mainframe should be left behind. A hybrid approach offers the most value, enabling businesses to get the best of both worlds. By Milan Shetti, CEO Rocket Software Nov 28, 2023 4 mins Digital Transformation brandpost Sponsored by Rimini Street Dear Oracle Cloud…I need my own space Access results from a recent Rimini Street survey about why enterprises are rethinking their Oracle relationship and cloud strategy. By Tanya O'Hara Nov 28, 2023 5 mins Cloud Computing brandpost Sponsored by Rimini Street How to evolve IT systems into innovation engines Today’s IT leaders are more than eager to modernize with best-fit cloud solutions that drive innovation and rapid business impact, but they need to do so with ROI-based solutions. By Tanya O'Hara Nov 28, 2023 4 mins IT Leadership Podcasts Videos Resources Events SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER From our editors straight to your inbox Get started by entering your email address below. Please enter a valid email address Subscribe