Associate (Employee) Benefit Plans

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2014

Compensation And Retirement Disclosure [Abstract]

Associate (Employee) Benefit Plans

8. ASSOCIATE (EMPLOYEE) BENEFIT PLANS

Postretirement Benefits

We share certain costs of providing health and life insurance benefits to retired Associates and their eligible dependents. Previously, all Associates were eligible for these benefits, if they reached normal retirement age while working for us. Effective March 31, 2014, we changed the eligibility of this plan to include only those associates who have achieved ten years of service with us as of March 31, 2014. The change will impact our net periodic benefit cost; however, this impact was partially offset by a change in the assumptions used to determine these costs (discount rate of 4.50% adjusted compared to 4.00% at December 31, 2013.

We account for our obligations under the provisions of FASB ASC 715, Compensation – Retirement Benefits (“ASC 715”). ASC 715 requires the costs of these benefits be recognized over an Associate’s active working career. Disclosures are in accordance with ASC 715.

The following disclosures of the net periodic benefit cost components of postretirement benefits were measured at January 1, 2014 and 2013:

	Three months ended March 31,
	2014		2013
(In Thousands)
Service cost	$	88	$	86
Interest cost		56		44
Amortization of transition obligation		—		—
Net loss recognition		14		20
Net periodic benefit cost	$	158	$	150