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Restructuring (Details) (USD $)
In Millions, unless otherwise specified |
12 Months Ended | 1 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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Dec. 31, 2011
Aon Hewitt Restructuring Plan
|
Dec. 31, 2010
Aon Hewitt Restructuring Plan
|
Dec. 31, 2011
Aon Hewitt Restructuring Plan
Risk Solutions
|
Dec. 31, 2011
Aon Hewitt Restructuring Plan
HR Solutions
|
Dec. 31, 2010
Aon Hewitt Restructuring Plan
HR Solutions
|
Dec. 31, 2011
Aon Hewitt Restructuring Plan
Workforce reduction
job
|
Dec. 31, 2010
Aon Hewitt Restructuring Plan
Workforce reduction
|
Oct. 31, 2010
Aon Hewitt Restructuring Plan
Workforce reduction
Minimum
job
|
Oct. 31, 2010
Aon Hewitt Restructuring Plan
Workforce reduction
Maximum
job
|
Dec. 31, 2011
Aon Hewitt Restructuring Plan
Lease consolidation
|
Dec. 31, 2010
Aon Hewitt Restructuring Plan
Lease consolidation
|
Dec. 31, 2011
Aon Hewitt Restructuring Plan
Asset impairments
|
Dec. 31, 2011
Aon Hewitt Restructuring Plan
Other costs associated with restructuring
|
Dec. 31, 2011
Aon Hewitt Restructuring Plan
Real estate lease realization
|
Dec. 31, 2011
Aon Benfield Restructuring Plan
|
Dec. 31, 2010
Aon Benfield Restructuring Plan
|
Dec. 31, 2009
Aon Benfield Restructuring Plan
|
Dec. 31, 2008
Aon Benfield Restructuring Plan
Original Estimate
Y
|
Dec. 31, 2009
Aon Benfield Restructuring Plan
Adjustment
|
Dec. 31, 2011
Aon Benfield Restructuring Plan
Current Estimate
|
Dec. 31, 2011
Aon Benfield Restructuring Plan
Workforce reduction
job
|
Dec. 31, 2010
Aon Benfield Restructuring Plan
Workforce reduction
|
Dec. 31, 2009
Aon Benfield Restructuring Plan
Workforce reduction
|
Dec. 31, 2008
Aon Benfield Restructuring Plan
Workforce reduction
job
|
Dec. 31, 2011
Aon Benfield Restructuring Plan
Lease consolidation
|
Dec. 31, 2010
Aon Benfield Restructuring Plan
Lease consolidation
|
Dec. 31, 2009
Aon Benfield Restructuring Plan
Lease consolidation
|
Dec. 31, 2011
Aon Benfield Restructuring Plan
Asset impairments
|
Dec. 31, 2010
Aon Benfield Restructuring Plan
Asset impairments
|
Dec. 31, 2009
Aon Benfield Restructuring Plan
Asset impairments
|
Dec. 31, 2011
Aon Benfield Restructuring Plan
Other costs associated with restructuring
|
Dec. 31, 2010
Aon Benfield Restructuring Plan
Other costs associated with restructuring
|
Dec. 31, 2009
Aon Benfield Restructuring Plan
Other costs associated with restructuring
|
Dec. 31, 2011
2007 Restructuring Plan
|
Dec. 31, 2010
2007 Restructuring Plan
|
Dec. 31, 2009
2007 Restructuring Plan
|
Dec. 31, 2008
2007 Restructuring Plan
|
Dec. 31, 2007
2007 Restructuring Plan
|
Dec. 31, 2011
2007 Restructuring Plan
Risk Solutions
|
Dec. 31, 2010
2007 Restructuring Plan
Risk Solutions
|
Dec. 31, 2009
2007 Restructuring Plan
Risk Solutions
|
Dec. 31, 2008
2007 Restructuring Plan
Risk Solutions
|
Dec. 31, 2007
2007 Restructuring Plan
Risk Solutions
|
Dec. 31, 2011
2007 Restructuring Plan
HR Solutions
|
Dec. 31, 2010
2007 Restructuring Plan
HR Solutions
|
Dec. 31, 2009
2007 Restructuring Plan
HR Solutions
|
Dec. 31, 2008
2007 Restructuring Plan
HR Solutions
|
Dec. 31, 2007
2007 Restructuring Plan
HR Solutions
|
Dec. 31, 2011
2007 Restructuring Plan
Workforce reduction
job
|
Dec. 31, 2010
2007 Restructuring Plan
Workforce reduction
|
Dec. 31, 2009
2007 Restructuring Plan
Workforce reduction
|
Dec. 31, 2008
2007 Restructuring Plan
Workforce reduction
|
Dec. 31, 2007
2007 Restructuring Plan
Workforce reduction
|
Dec. 31, 2011
2007 Restructuring Plan
Lease consolidation
|
Dec. 31, 2010
2007 Restructuring Plan
Lease consolidation
|
Dec. 31, 2009
2007 Restructuring Plan
Lease consolidation
|
Dec. 31, 2008
2007 Restructuring Plan
Lease consolidation
|
Dec. 31, 2007
2007 Restructuring Plan
Lease consolidation
|
Dec. 31, 2011
2007 Restructuring Plan
Asset impairments
|
Dec. 31, 2010
2007 Restructuring Plan
Asset impairments
|
Dec. 31, 2009
2007 Restructuring Plan
Asset impairments
|
Dec. 31, 2008
2007 Restructuring Plan
Asset impairments
|
Dec. 31, 2007
2007 Restructuring Plan
Asset impairments
|
Dec. 31, 2011
2007 Restructuring Plan
Other costs associated with restructuring
|
Dec. 31, 2010
2007 Restructuring Plan
Other costs associated with restructuring
|
Dec. 31, 2009
2007 Restructuring Plan
Other costs associated with restructuring
|
Dec. 31, 2008
2007 Restructuring Plan
Other costs associated with restructuring
|
Dec. 31, 2007
2007 Restructuring Plan
Other costs associated with restructuring
|
|
| Restructuring and Related Cost | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Number of jobs eliminated to date under the plan | 1,080 | 785 | 4,700 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Number of jobs expected to be eliminated under the plan | 1,500 | 1,800 | 800 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Estimated additional restructuring costs to be recorded in future earnings | $ 7 | $ 81 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Restructuring charges paid total to date | 129 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Purchase price allocation | 53 | 104 | (49) | 53 | 32 | 20 | 1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Restructuring and related charges | 105 | 52 | 15 | 90 | 52 | 64 | 49 | 32 | 3 | 7 | 2 | 19 | 26 | 55 | 33 | 15 | 38 | (15) | 7 | 14 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | (11) | 94 | 357 | 251 | 46 | (10) | 84 | 322 | 234 | 41 | (1) | 10 | 35 | 17 | 5 | (2) | 72 | 251 | 166 | 17 | (9) | 15 | 78 | 38 | 22 | 2 | 15 | 18 | 4 | 5 | 13 | 29 | 3 | ||||||||||
| Restructuring charges total to date | 153 | 118 | 26 | 4 | 5 | 737 | 671 | 66 | 504 | 144 | 39 | 50 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Estimated Total Cost for Restructuring Period | $ 325 | $ 28 | $ 297 | $ 180 | $ 95 | $ 47 | $ 3 | $ 145 | $ 160 | $ 185 | $ 160 | $ 125 | $ 26 | $ 4 | $ 5 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Period over which the expected cost will be incurred (in years) | 3 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||