The 2011 Business Record Readers Survey included a question about company benefits, and in these post-recession times, employees provided a clear message to employers. As the Beatles sang, long ago: “Give me money. That’s what I want.”

A handful of our 200 respondents selected “exercise facilities” or “day care facilities” as the most prized company benefit, but two-thirds opted for “a 401(k) plan with a company match.” The “company match” part of that formula vanished for many workers as companies scrambled to reduce costs during the economic meltdown.

Given the opportunity to suggest their own No. 1 choices, several readers mentioned health insurance without being specific about their concerns. As one wrote, “health benefits continue to be the most discussed benefit.”

This was also the topic of another question dealing with last year’s Patient Rights and Affordable Care legislation, which has come to be known in shorthand as Obamacare. Many of the bill’s provisions won’t kick in for some time yet, but our survey found a lot of pessimism lying in wait.

Forty-five percent of respondents said they expect the changes to affect their company in a negative way.

There was a decided lack of optimism regarding the prospects for commercial real estate in the coming 12 months, too. Half of the respondents picked “construction will remain slow, but rents will rise” as the most likely description of what lies ahead for Central Iowa.

“We are headed towards a real problem with commercial real estate,” wrote one survey-taker. “If we don’t find new companies to occupy the existing buildings, then our tax base will erode and we will be always trying to catch up to a bouncing tax ball, which will mean fewer dollars coming in and thus fewer dollars to spend.”

Speaking of finding new building occupants, we also asked specifically about downtown Des Moines, where the vacancy rate is worrisomely high. “Recruiting large companies” and “establishing programs to help small-company entrepreneurs” both received strong support, while only a few chose “converting office space to residential” as the most important tactic.

One reader urged that city, county and state government should use what’s available rather than seeking new construction.

Another said: “Quit towing people’s cars away, reduce overtime fines, let people out of the arena to have lunch downtown. Try making it a friendly downtown and a place people want to visit.”

We borrowed a question from the ongoing Capital Crossroads project and asked about needed cultural changes. A couple of people called for more outdoor events in Greater Des Moines. “More ‘festival’ type events,” suggested one. “Take the art festival and apply the approach to other areas.” Another said, “Create additional one-of-a kind cultural attractions such as the Pappajohn Sculpture Park.”

Jann Freed, a professor at Central College and Pella and a frequent contributor of guest opinions to the Business Record, chimed in with the kind of remark any city leader would love to hear: “I actually love life the way it is.”

The survey was sent to approximately 1,800 Business Record subscribers on May 2 and remained open until noon of May 6.