$record = { EMPLOYER => "company name", EMPLOYEES => ["john", "fred", ...], EMPLOYEES_FAMILY_MEMBERS => {"susan", "bill"}, }; #### %CompanyInfo{ $record->{EMPLOYER} } = $record; #### EMPLOYEES =~ m/jim/ and EMPLOYEES_FAMILY_MEMBERS =~ m/bill/. #### @employer = grep{$_ =~ m/Name/} keys %CompanyInfo;