10. EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS

The Company has defined contribution plans for most of its domestic employees. Under these plans, eligible employees may contribute amounts through payroll deductions supplemented by employer contributions for investment in various investments specified in the plans. In the second quarter of 2009, the Company elected to suspend employer contributions into the defined contribution plans. The Company contribution to these plans for 2011, 2010, and 2009 was $0, $0, and $74, respectively.

The Company provides post-retirement medical benefits to certain domestic full-time employees who meet minimum age and service requirements. In 1999, a plan amendment was instituted which limits the liability for post-retirement benefits beginning January 1, 2000 for certain employees who retire after that date. This plan amendment resulted in a $1,100 unrecognized prior service cost reduction which will be recognized as employees render the services necessary to earn the post-retirement benefit. The Company's policy is to pay the cost of these post-retirement benefits when required on a cash basis. The Company also has provided certain foreign employees with retirement related benefits.

The following table presents the amounts recognized in the Company's consolidated balance sheets at December 31, 2011 and 2010 for post-retirement medical benefits:


	2011			2010
Change in Projected Benefit Obligation
Projected benefit obligation at January 1	$	875		$	889
Interest cost		47			49
Actuarial loss		130			109
Participant contributions		85			77
Benefits paid		(287	)		(249	)

Projected benefit obligation at December 31		850			875

Change in fair value of plan assets
Employer contributions		202			172
Participant contributions		85			77
Benefits paid		(287	)		(249	)

Funded status		(850	)		(875	)

Amount recognized in consolidated balance sheets
Current liabilities		165			165
Noncurrent liabilities		685			710
Net amount recognized	$	850		$	875

Amount recognized in other comprehensive income
Unrecognized net actuarial gain		—			—
Total	$	—		$	—

Accrued post-retirement medical benefit costs are classified as other post-retirement benefit obligations as of December 31, 2011 and 2010.

Net periodic post-retirement medical benefit costs for 2011, 2010, and 2009 included the following components:


	2011		2010		2009
Service cost	$	—	$	—	$	—
Interest cost		47		49		58

Net periodic post-retirement medical benefit cost	$	47	$	49	$	58

For measurement purposes, an 8.0% annual rate of increase in the per capita cost of covered benefits (i.e., health care cost trend rate) was assumed for 2011; the rate was assumed to decrease gradually to 3.5% by the year 2018 and remain at that level thereafter. The difference in the health care cost trend rate assumption may have a significant effect on the amounts reported. For example, increasing the assumed health care cost trend rates by one percentage point in each year would increase the accumulated post-retirement medical benefit obligation as of December 31, 2011 by $11 and the aggregate of the service and interest cost components of net periodic post-retirement medical benefit cost for the year ended December 31, 2011 by $1. Employer contributions for 2012 are expected to be approximately $122.

The assumptions used for the years ended December 31 were as follows:


	2011			2010			2009

Annual increase in cost of benefits		8.0	%		8.0	%		9.0	%

Discount rate used to determine year-end obligations		5.5	%		6.0	%		6.0	%

Discount rate used to determine year-end expense		6.0	%		6.0	%		7.0	%

The following employer benefit payments, which reflect expected future service, are expected to be paid:


2012	$	122
2013	$	113
2014	$	103
2015	$	93
2016	$	83
Years 2017 – 2021	$	275

The Company provides retirement related benefits to former executive employees and to certain employees of foreign subsidiaries. The Company has consistently applied various assumptions in determining the fair market value of these liabilities including discount rates, and mortality tables. The liabilities established for these benefits at December 31, 2011 and 2010 are illustrated below.


	2011		2010

Current portion	$	91	$	90
Long-term portion		431		464

Total liability at December 31	$	522	$	554