Employee Contributions vs. Employer Contributions
The Charles River Laboratories, Inc. Savings/plus Plan includes both employee deferrals and employer matching contributions. Employee contributions are always 100% vested because they are made from the participant’s own paycheck. However, employer contributions may be subject to a vesting schedule—whether graded, cliff, or another type—which affects how much a participant actually owns at the time of divorce.
When drafting a QDRO, it’s crucial to specify whether the division includes only vested amounts or anticipates full vesting over time. An improperly worded QDRO could award money that doesn’t legally belong to the participant yet—or that disappears if the employee leaves the company before full vesting.

