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auto-enrollment 403(b) and 401(k)

How Auto-Enrollment in 403(b)s and 401(k)s Affects Part-Time Workers

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Auto-Enrollment 403(b) and 401(k) - Expanding Retirement Access for Part-Time Workers

In the past, millions of part-time employees were excluded from workplace retirement plans. However, 2025 marks a new era in retirement savings thanks to SECURE Act 2.0, which mandates auto-enrollment in 403(b) and 401(k) plans and dramatically expands access for part-time workers.

If you’re a part-time worker—or a business or non-profit managing these employees—understanding the new auto-enrollment 403(b) and 401(k) rules is crucial. Here’s how the legislation reshapes retirement inclusion.

SECURE Act 2.0: The Retirement Access Revolution

Passed in late 2022, SECURE Act 2.0 introduced sweeping reforms designed to:

In 2025, all new 403(b) and 401(k) plans must include auto-enrollment, transforming how part-time and full-time employees participate in long-term savings.

Auto-Enrollment Explained

Auto-enrollment means employees are automatically signed up for retirement savings—typically starting at a 3% deferral rate—unless they actively opt out.

Key Features:
The new auto-enrollment 403(b) and 401(k) requirement increases employee participation dramatically, especially among lower-wage or part-time workers who may not otherwise sign up.

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How it Affects 403(b) and 401(k) Plans?

Both 403(b) (for nonprofits, education, healthcare) and 401(k) (for private sector employees) are now governed by nearly identical auto-enrollment rules under SECURE 2.0.

In 2025 and Beyond:
This regulatory alignment improves equity in retirement access across sectors.

Part-Time Worker Eligibility in 2025

What’s Changed:
  • Prior: 3 consecutive years with 500+ hours

  • Now: Only 2 consecutive years with 500+ hours

Benefits of Auto-Enrollment for Part-Time Employees

The combination of part-time eligibility and auto-enrollment 403(b) and 401(k) mandates means:

This ensures part-time workers build real retirement assets even without full-time salaries.

Conclusion

The 2025 mandates for auto-enrollment 403(b) and 401(k) plans represent a monumental shift toward retirement inclusion. For employers, it’s time to prepare. For part-time workers, it’s a long-overdue opportunity to build financial security.

Embrace these changes now, because small contributions today can grow into lasting stability tomorrow.

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