How to handle laid off employees’ 401(k) accounts still in your plan

Description

Abstract: When employee head count is growing, a little turnover now and then usually doesn’t create a lot of concerns about “orphan” 401(k) accounts. However, employers forced to downsize during the economic downturn brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic might have a larger proportion of accounts left behind by former employees than they did previously. Why might that be a problem? And if it is, what should employers do about it? This article takes a closer look, while a sidebar describes two other areas worth reviewing when dealing with orphan accounts.