A number of employers have moved to "flexible benefits," in which they provide a certain amount of money, allowing employees to choose their benefits.

Despite the challenges, many workers say flexible benefits give them the balance they need.

Workplace experts offered these tips for keeping a career on track while taking advantage of flexible benefits: * Keep the lines of communication open.

The two important questions for a family to ask when choosing flexible benefits are, "What are our needs?"

They must often spend years waiting to get access to the more flexible benefits available only to a limited number of adults with mental retardation.

It changes the funding mechanism and gives them greater opportunity to craft benefits that are more flexible benefits.

Dr. Davis and other experts have proposed various remedies, starting with raises, flexible benefits and child-care services for nurses.

I believe it will, in time, bring real benefits as the legislative process becomes faster, more flexible and more transparent.

MANY companies are turning to so-called flexible benefits plans as a way out of the separate-or-blended situation.

So they're the employees who would most welcome innovations like flexible schedules, flexible benefits and work sharing.