Planning to Retire

Coca-Cola Bottling Co. Suspends 401(k) Match

By Emily Brandon

Posted: February 23, 2009

Note to Coca-Cola Bottling Co. employees: Get your 401(k) match while you still can. The second largest bottling company in the U.S. will suspend matching contributions to its 401(k) plan on April 1, according to a Friday regulatory filing. The company currently contributes one dollar for each dollar saved by the employee, up to five percent of the worker’s pay.

Coca-Cola Bottling Co. joins over 90 other companies that have eliminated on changed their 401(k) match since October 2008, according to the Pension Rights Center, including UPS, Macy’s, and Motorola. Human resources consulting firm Hewitt Associates believes that upwards of 10 percent of companies could potentially suspend or reduce their match in the coming 12 to 18 months.

[See 5 Ways Your 401(k) Will be Changed in 2009]

And what business is it of ours?

Why do we care? This was a business decision of Coca-Cola. So what if it IS greed that fueled it? It was their right to make the decision; hell, it's their right to fire everyone and close the company if they wish.

Capitalist Cory of TX @ Mar 06, 2009 10:17:58 AM

Eat the rich?

Al's comment about cutting CEO pay is reminiscent of the Bolshevik revolution.

Many CEOs ARE taking paycuts, seeing their stock options positioned underwater and bonuses evaporating. Taking the match out of the 401(k) plan is not one of the first things that companies do, but most would rather temporarily suspend the match than lay off well-trained, seasoned employees.

Al, if you haven't noticed, the stock market, the financial markets, the global economy are all headed south. "Hope" and "Change" aren't exactly working out like you thoght they would, are they?

Marty Brown of CA @ Mar 03, 2009 16:55:56 PM

401k cuts

FedEx also suspended matching contributions to its 401(k), but only after utilizing pay cuts of all salaried employees (managers). In doing so, FedEx has limited itself from having to layoff employees. That is just another reason why FedEx remains one of the top companies to work for.

Joe P of TX @ Mar 02, 2009 09:47:29 AM

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Planning to Retire

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