What may happen if an employee leaves a profit-sharing plan before being fully vested?

When an employee leaves a profit-sharing plan before becoming fully vested, the contributions made by the employer on their behalf may not belong to the employee. In such cases, the unvested portion of the contributions is considered "forfeited." These forfeitures typically do not remain with the plan but are instead allocated to remaining participants in the profit-sharing plan. This allocation can happen in various ways, such as reducing future employer contributions or being added to participants' accounts to increase their overall benefits.

Understanding this mechanism is important because it highlights the potential impact of vesting schedules on employees' benefits and the plan's management of resources. Employees who leave before being fully vested may not receive any benefits related to the employer contributions, but the plan utilizes those forfeited amounts to benefit other members, ensuring that the contributions are effectively used within the plan framework.