American companies diverge from standard pension plans

The largest U.S. companies move away from traditional pension plans, with more than four in 10 now offering new workers only defined contribution accounts like company-sponsored retirement plans.

Photo: American companies diverge from standard pension plans

The major shift reflects the evolution of workers' retirement benefits - the decline in traditional pensions that give retired employees a fixed payment each month and the rise of defined-contribution savings plans that rely on workers to build retirement assets.

Of the 100 U.S. largest companies, just 31 offered traditional pension plans in 2006, according to a study by the Watson Wyatt Worldwide human resources consulting and management firm. That's down from 35 in 2005 and only about a third of the 89 that offered traditional pensions in 1985, the study indicated.

As of last year, 42 of the companies had moved to defined contribution plans, like 401(k) accounts, which require employees to play a major role in funding their retirement savings. That's up from 37 in 2005 and 10 in 1985, the study showed.

The rest - 27 companies - were using so-called hybrid defined benefit plans, such as cash-balance plans. These pension programs offer a guaranteed benefit like a traditional pension, but generally provide longtime workers with less in accrued benefits than traditional plans. That was down from 28 in 2005 but up significantly from the single plan offered in 1985.

Watson Wyatt, which is headquartered in Arlington, Virginia, expects further growth in the hybrid plans, especially after recent legislative changes and legal decisions have taken some of the uncertainty out of the programs.

Last summer, a federal appeals court reversed a lower court's finding that International Business Machine Corp.'s cash balance pension plan discriminated against older workers. The Supreme Court in January refused to review the case.

Also, the Pension Protection Act, which went into effect last August, contained a number of provisions that should give companies more confidence if they shift to hybrid plans, said Kevin Wagner, a senior retirement consultant at Watson Wyatt.