Employee and Employer Contributions
The participant’s own contributions are usually 100% vested — they go in from the employee’s paycheck. However, employer contributions may be subject to a vesting schedule. That means the spouse could be entitled to less than expected if the participant hasn’t worked long enough to become fully vested.
For example, if the employer match is 50% vested after two years of service and 100% vested after five, and the employee only worked four years, part of the employer contributions may be forfeited.

