a.s.r. annual report 2021

See accounting policy KK.

Operating expenses

	2021	2020
Salaries and wages	-292	-273
Social security contributions	-37	-35
Employee benefit charges	-58	-72
Employee discounts	-3	-3
Other short term employee benefits	-6	-8
Total cost of internal staff	-396	-391

Cost of external staff	-83	-88
Consultancy costs and fees	-110	-100
Marketing, advertising and public relations expenses	-20	-15
Technology and system costs	-63	-57
Amortisation of other intangible assets	-10	-8
Depreciation of property, plant and equipment	-19	-16
Other operating expenses	-24	-26
Total other operating expenses	-329	-310

Total operating expenses	-725	-701

The increase in total operating expenses is primarily a result of various acquisitions (see chapter 6.4.5) and organic growth, partly offset by lower costs of the new post-employment DC pensions plan (see chapter 6.5.17.1).

Other operating expenses include travel and subsistence, telephone and personnel training expenses.

Segmentation of a.s.r.'s internal workforce

Segments	2021	2020
Non-life	1,508	1,524
Life	493	464
Asset Management	373	347
Distribution and Services	706	680
Holding and Other	1,075	1,027

Total workforce in FTE	4,155	4,042

The increase of a.s.r.'s total internal work force is mainly the result of the acquisition of Brand New Day IORP (see chapter 6.4.5) and more IT&C capacity for change projects.

Employees related to administrative activities and overhead are allocated to segment Holding and Other.