I'd need to check for references, but I think most of the growth of benefits goes to increased cost of health care.

It is bad enough to be told that your 10% salary raise will be payable in lottery tickets (most people remain healthy and get zero raise, a minority of sick people get huge payoff in the form of medical services); but when you find out that the jackpot is the same size but more tickets got printed (medical cost raise but quality of service flats out) you get really pissed off.

Sure, but then we aren't in a situation where growth of wages isn't keeping pace with GDP, we are in a situation where healthcare cost increases are outpacing GDP. They are two different problems.

Unless you can decline benefits and have an equivalent dollar amount tacked onto your paycheck, I don't see why they should be taken into account.