Employee Benefit Plans

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2011

Compensation and Retirement Disclosure [Abstract]

Employee Benefit Plans

Employee Benefit Plans

We maintain a 401(k) plan for full-time employees. We had historically made matching contributions up to an amount equal to three percent of the employee’s salary and may also make annual discretionary contributions. We temporarily suspended the Company’s matching program beginning in July 2009; however, it was reinstated in January 2011 with matching contributions up to an amount equal to two percent of the employee's salary. Also, a discretionary contribution was made at the end of 2011 and 2010. The total expense recognized for this plan was $2.5 million, $1.3 million and $1.6 million for the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009, respectively.

We make contributions to a contributory health and welfare plan as necessary to fund claims not covered by employee contributions. The total expense we recognized related to this plan was $9.5 million, $10.4 million and $11.2 million for 2011, 2010 and 2009, respectively. These expense amounts include estimates based upon the historical experience of claims incurred but not reported as of year-end.