Truth in numbers.

Using finely honed techniques, some employers are coming up with detailed and helpful insights into which types of compensation and benefits most cost-effectively drive employee retention and satisfaction.

In this month's cover story, "Find What Workers Want," on page 50, business

California-based IndyMac Bank, for instance, examined various types of information already on hand in determining--with a few surprises--how specific practices affected retention among various categories of employees.

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The message for HR is clear: General information about employees' attitudes may not provide enough guidance when shaping incentive and benefits programs. You may have to overlay several types of data to see whether particular programs are producing--or would produce--the results you want among particular segments of your workforce.