U.S. workers stalling retirement

America’s workers are delaying retirement, their human-resources executives said in a recent survey by consultant company Towers Perrin.

Nearly 60 percent of the 480 clients surveyed said they believed employees were delaying retirement, while 43 percent said workers were increasing loans and hardship withdrawals from company retirement savings plans.

Another 38 percent said they saw declining employee participation in defined-contribution plans.

Only 8 percent of companies said they had suspended matching contributions.

Companies are also cutting medical benefits — many were considering reducing or cutting medical benefits for future retirees. More than 80 percent were considering tightening prescription drug plans.