Employee Benefit Plans

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2015

Compensation and Retirement Disclosure [Abstract]

Employee Benefit Plans

Employee Benefit Plans

The company has defined benefit pension plans for many employees. The company typically prefunds defined benefit plans as required by local regulations or in certain situations where prefunding provides economic advantages. In the United States, all qualified plans are subject to the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) minimum funding standard. The company does not typically fund U.S. nonqualified pension plans that are not subject to funding requirements under laws and regulations because contributions to these pension plans may be less economic and investment returns may be less attractive than the company’s other investment alternatives.

The company also sponsors other postretirement benefit (OPEB) plans that provide medical and dental benefits, as well as life insurance for some active and qualifying retired employees. The plans are unfunded, and the company and retirees share the costs. Medical coverage for Medicare-eligible retirees in the company’s main U.S. medical plan is secondary to Medicare (including Part D) and the increase to the company contribution for retiree medical coverage is limited to no more than 4 percent each year. Certain life insurance benefits are paid by the company.

The company recognizes the overfunded or underfunded status of each of its defined benefit pension and OPEB plans as an asset or liability on the Consolidated Balance Sheet.

The funded status of the company’s pension and OPEB plans for 2015 and 2014 follows:

	Pension Benefits
	2015						2014						Other Benefits
	U.S.			Int’l.			U.S.			Int’l.			2015			2014
Change in Benefit Obligation
Benefit obligation at January 1	$	14,250		$	5,767		$	12,080		$	6,095		$	3,660		$	3,138
Service cost	538			185			450			190			72			50
Interest cost	502			277			494			340			151			148
Plan participants' contributions	—			6			—			8			148			150
Plan amendments	—			(6		)	—			3			—			2
Actuarial (gain) loss	(345		)	(309		)	2,299			336			(326		)	544
Foreign currency exchange rate changes	—			(326		)	—			(348		)	(37		)	(22		)
Benefits paid	(1,382		)	(241		)	(1,073		)	(293		)	(344		)	(350		)
Divestitures	—			—			—			(564		)	—			—
Curtailment	—			(17		)	—			—			—			—
Benefit obligation at December 31	13,563			5,336			14,250			5,767			3,324			3,660
Change in Plan Assets
Fair value of plan assets at January 1	11,090			4,244			11,210			4,543			—			—
Actual return on plan assets	(75		)	112			854			571			—			—
Foreign currency exchange rate changes	—			(239		)	—			(279		)	—			—
Employer contributions	641			227			99			276			196			200
Plan participants' contributions	—			6			—			8			148			150
Benefits paid	(1,382		)	(241		)	(1,073		)	(293		)	(344		)	(350		)
Divestitures	—			—			—			(582		)	—			—
Fair value of plan assets at December 31	10,274			4,109			11,090			4,244			—			—
Funded Status at December 31	$	(3,289	)	$	(1,227	)	$	(3,160	)	$	(1,523	)	$	(3,324	)	$	(3,660	)

Amounts recognized on the Consolidated Balance Sheet for the company’s pension and OPEB plans at December 31, 2015 and 2014, include:

	Pension Benefits
	2015						2014						Other Benefits
	U.S.			Int’l.			U.S.			Int’l.			2015			2014
Deferred charges and other assets	$	13		$	333		$	13		$	244		$	—		$	—
Accrued liabilities	(153		)	(77		)	(123		)	(68		)	(191		)	(198		)
Noncurrent employee benefit plans	(3,149		)	(1,483		)	(3,050		)	(1,699		)	(3,133		)	(3,462		)
Net amount recognized at December 31	$	(3,289	)	$	(1,227	)	$	(3,160	)	$	(1,523	)	$	(3,324	)	$	(3,660	)

Amounts recognized on a before-tax basis in “Accumulated other comprehensive loss” for the company’s pension and OPEB plans were $6,478 and $7,417 at the end of 2015 and 2014, respectively. These amounts consisted of:

	Pension Benefits
	2015					2014					Other Benefits
	U.S.			Int’l.		U.S.			Int’l.		2015		2014
Net actuarial loss	$	4,809		$	1,143	$	4,972		$	1,487	$	367	$	763
Prior service (credit) costs	(5		)	120		(13		)	150		44		58
Total recognized at December 31	$	4,804		$	1,263	$	4,959		$	1,637	$	411	$	821

The accumulated benefit obligations for all U.S. and international pension plans were $12,032 and $4,684, respectively, at December 31, 2015, and $12,833 and $4,995, respectively, at December 31, 2014.

Information for U.S. and international pension plans with an accumulated benefit obligation in excess of plan assets at December 31, 2015 and 2014, was:

	Pension Benefits
	2015				2014
	U.S.		Int’l.		U.S.		Int’l.
Projected benefit obligations	$	13,500	$	1,623	$	14,182	$	1,938
Accumulated benefit obligations	11,969		1,357		12,765		1,525
Fair value of plan assets	10,198		207		11,009		262

The components of net periodic benefit cost and amounts recognized in the Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income for 2015, 2014 and 2013 are shown in the table below:

	Pension Benefits
	2015						2014						2013						Other Benefits
	U.S.			Int’l.			U.S.			Int’l.			U.S.			Int’l.			2015			2014			2013
Net Periodic Benefit Cost
Service cost	$	538		$	185		$	450		$	190		$	495		$	197		$	72		$	50		$	66
Interest cost	502			277			494			340			471			314			151			148			149
Expected return on plan assets	(783		)	(262		)	(788		)	(298		)	(701		)	(274		)	—			—			—
Amortization of prior service costs (credits)	(8		)	22			(9		)	21			2			21			14			14			(50		)
Recognized actuarial losses	356			78			209			96			485			143			34			7			53
Settlement losses	320			6			237			208			173			12			—			—			—
Curtailment losses (gains)	—			(14		)	—			—			—			—			—			—			—
Total net periodic benefit cost	925			292			593			557			925			413			271			219			218
Changes Recognized in Comprehensive Income
Net actuarial (gain) loss during period	513			(260		)	2,233			(17		)	(2,244		)	(476		)	(362		)	514			(659		)
Amortization of actuarial loss	(676		)	(84		)	(446		)	(304		)	(658		)	(155		)	(34		)	(7		)	(53		)
Prior service (credits) costs during period	—			(6		)	—			4			(78		)	18			—			2			—
Amortization of prior service (costs) credits	8			(24		)	9			(21		)	(2		)	(21		)	(14		)	(14		)	50
Total changes recognized in other comprehensive income	(155		)	(374		)	1,796			(338		)	(2,982		)	(634		)	(410		)	495			(662		)
Recognized in Net Periodic Benefit Cost and Other Comprehensive Income	$	770		$	(82	)	$	2,389		$	219		$	(2,057	)	$	(221	)	$	(139	)	$	714		$	(444	)

Net actuarial losses recorded in “Accumulated other comprehensive loss” at December 31, 2015, for the company’s U.S. pension, international pension and OPEB plans are being amortized on a straight-line basis over approximately 10, 10 and 16 years, respectively. These amortization periods represent the estimated average remaining service of employees expected to receive benefits under the plans. These losses are amortized to the extent they exceed 10 percent of the higher of the projected benefit obligation or market-related value of plan assets. The amount subject to amortization is determined on a plan-by-plan basis. During 2016, the company estimates actuarial losses of $335, $56 and $19 will be amortized from “Accumulated other comprehensive loss” for U.S. pension, international pension and OPEB plans, respectively. In addition, the company estimates an additional $324 will be recognized from “Accumulated other comprehensive loss” during 2016 related to lump-sum settlement costs from the main U.S. pension plan.

The weighted average amortization period for recognizing prior service costs (credits) recorded in “Accumulated other comprehensive loss” at December 31, 2015, was approximately 4 and 11 years for U.S. and international pension plans, respectively, and 7 years for OPEB plans. During 2016, the company estimates prior service (credits) costs of $(9), $15 and $14 will be amortized from “Accumulated other comprehensive loss” for U.S. pension, international pension and OPEB plans, respectively.

Assumptions The following weighted-average assumptions were used to determine benefit obligations and net periodic benefit costs for years ended December 31:

	Pension Benefits
	2015				2014				2013						Other Benefits
	U.S.		Int’l.		U.S.		Int’l.		U.S.		Int’l.		2015		2014		2013
Assumptions used to determine benefit obligations:
Discount rate	4.0	%	5.3	%	3.7	%	5.0	%	4.3	%	5.8	%	4.6	%	4.3	%	4.9	%
Rate of compensation increase	4.5	%	4.8	%	4.5	%	5.1	%	4.5	%	5.5	%	N/A		N/A		N/A
Assumptions used to determine net periodic benefit cost:
Discount rate	3.7	%	5.0	%	4.3	%	5.8	%	3.6	%	5.2	%	4.3	%	4.9	%	4.1	%
Expected return on plan assets	7.5	%	6.3	%	7.5	%	6.6	%	7.5	%	6.8	%	N/A		N/A		N/A
Rate of compensation increase	4.5	%	5.1	%	4.5	%	5.5	%	4.5	%	5.5	%	N/A		N/A		N/A

Expected Return on Plan Assets The company’s estimated long-term rates of return on pension assets are driven primarily by actual historical asset-class returns, an assessment of expected future performance, advice from external actuarial firms and the incorporation of specific asset-class risk factors. Asset allocations are periodically updated using pension plan asset/liability studies, and the company’s estimated long-term rates of return are consistent with these studies.

For 2015, the company used an expected long-term rate of return of 7.5 percent for U.S. pension plan assets, which account for 71 percent of the company’s pension plan assets. In both 2014 and 2013, the company used a long-term rate of return of 7.5 percent for this plan.

The market-related value of assets of the main U.S. pension plan used in the determination of pension expense was based on the market values in the three months preceding the year-end measurement date. Management considers the three-month time period long enough to minimize the effects of distortions from day-to-day market volatility and still be contemporaneous to the end of the year. For other plans, market value of assets as of year-end is used in calculating the pension expense.

Discount Rate The discount rate assumptions used to determine the U.S. and international pension and OPEB plan obligations and expense reflect the rate at which benefits could be effectively settled, and are equal to the equivalent single rate resulting from yield curve analysis. This analysis considered the projected benefit payments specific to the company's plans and the yields on high-quality bonds. At December 31, 2015, the projected cash flows were discounted to the valuation date using the yield curve for the main U.S. pension and OPEB plans. The effective discount rates derived from this analysis were 4.0 percent for the main U.S. pension plan and 4.5 percent for the main U.S. OPEB plan. The discount rates for these plans at the end of 2014 were 3.7 and 4.1 percent, respectively, while in 2013 they were 4.3 and 4.7 percent for these plans, respectively.

The company changed the method used to estimate the service and interest costs associated with the company’s main U.S. pension and OPEB plans. In prior years, the service and interest costs were estimated utilizing a single weighted-average discount rate derived from the yield curve used to measure the defined benefit obligations at the beginning of the year. Under the new method, these costs are estimated by applying spot rates along the yield curve to the relevant projected cash flows. The change was made to provide a more precise measurement of the service and interest costs by improving the correlation between projected benefit cash flows and the corresponding spot yield curve rates. This change in accounting estimate is accounted for prospectively beginning with the year ending December 31, 2016. The company does not expect the change to have a material effect on its consolidated financial position or liquidity.

Other Benefit Assumptions For the measurement of accumulated postretirement benefit obligation at December 31, 2015, for the main U.S. OPEB plan, the assumed health care cost-trend rates start with 7.1 percent in 2016 and gradually decline to 4.5 percent for 2025 and beyond. For this measurement at December 31, 2014, the assumed health care cost-trend rates started with 7 percent in 2015 and gradually declined to 4.5 percent for 2025 and beyond. In both measurements, the annual increase to company contributions was capped at 4 percent.

Assumed health care cost-trend rates can have a significant effect on the amounts reported for retiree health care costs. The impact is mitigated by the 4 percent cap on the company’s medical contributions for the main U.S. plan. A 1-percentage-point change in the assumed health care cost-trend rates would have the following effects on worldwide plans:

	1 Percent Increase		1 Percent Decrease
Effect on total service and interest cost components	$	20	$	(17	)
Effect on postretirement benefit obligation	$	192	$	(164	)

Plan Assets and Investment Strategy

The fair value measurements of the company’s pension plans for 2015 and 2014 are below:

	U.S.									Int’l.
	Total Fair Value		Level 1			Level 2		Level 3		Total Fair Value		Level 1			Level 2		Level 3
At December 31, 2014
Equities
U.S.1	$	2,087	$	2,087		$	—	$	—	$	241	$	241		$	—	$	—
International	1,297		1,297			—		—		313		313			—		—
Collective Trusts/Mutual Funds2	3,240		22			3,218		—		979		173			806		—
Fixed Income
Government	84		47			37		—		1,066		53			1,013		—
Corporate	1,502		—			1,502		—		585		26			537		22
Mortgage-Backed Securities	1		—			1		—		1		—			1		—
Other Asset Backed	—		—			—		—		—		—			—		—
Collective Trusts/Mutual Funds2	1,174		—			1,174		—		394		16			378		—
Mixed Funds3	—		—			—		—		122		3			119		—
Real Estate4	1,364		—			—		1,364		329		—			—		329
Cash and Cash Equivalents	270		270			—		—		190		189			1		—
Other5	71		(3		)	20		54		24		—			21		3
Total at December 31, 2014	$	11,090	$	3,720		$	5,952	$	1,418	$	4,244	$	1,014		$	2,876	$	354
At December 31, 2015
Equities
U.S.1	$	1,699	$	1,699		$	—	$	—	$	392	$	382		$	10	$	—
International	1,302		1,296			6		—		457		435			22		—
Collective Trusts/Mutual Funds2	2,460		18			2,442		—		572		7			565		—
Fixed Income
Government	257		46			211		—		1,089		93			996		—
Corporate	1,654		—			1,654		—		615		33			557		25
Bank Loans	148		—			148		—		—		—			—		—
Mortgage-Backed Securities	1		—			1		—		1		—			1		—
Other Asset Backed	1		—			1		—		—		—			—		—
Collective Trusts/Mutual Funds2	933		—			933		—		269		12			257		—
Mixed Funds3	—		—			—		—		85		4			81		—
Real Estate4	1,494		—			—		1,494		378		—			—		378
Cash and Cash Equivalents	253		253			—		—		232		232			—		—
Other5	72		(6		)	26		52		19		(2		)	19		2
Total at December 31, 2015	$	10,274	$	3,306		$	5,422	$	1,546	$	4,109	$	1,196		$	2,508	$	405

¹  U.S. equities include investments in the company’s common stock in the amount of $9 at December 31, 2015, and $24 at December 31, 2014.

²  Collective Trusts/Mutual Funds for U.S. plans are entirely index funds; for International plans, they are mostly index funds. For these index funds, the Level 2 designation is partially based on the restriction that advance notification of redemptions, typically two business days, is required.

³  Mixed funds are composed of funds that invest in both equity and fixed-income instruments in order to diversify and lower risk.

⁴  The year-end valuations of the U.S. real estate assets are based on internal appraisals by the real estate managers, which are updates of third-party appraisals that occur at least once a year for each property in the portfolio.

⁵  The “Other” asset class includes net payables for securities purchased but not yet settled (Level 1); dividends and interest- and tax-related receivables (Level 2); insurance contracts and investments in private-equity limited partnerships (Level 3).

The effects of fair value measurements using significant unobservable inputs on changes in Level 3 plan assets are outlined below:

	Fixed Income
	Corporate			Mortgage-Backed Securities			Real Estate			Other			Total
Total at December 31, 2013	$	23		$	2		$	1,559		$	57		$	1,641
Actual Return on Plan Assets:
Assets held at the reporting date	—			—			115			—			115
Assets sold during the period	—			—			20			—			20
Purchases, Sales and Settlements	(1		)	(2		)	(1		)	—			(4		)
Transfers in and/or out of Level 3	—			—			—			—			—
Total at December 31, 2014	$	22		$	—		$	1,693		$	57		$	1,772
Actual Return on Plan Assets:
Assets held at the reporting date	(3		)	—			149			(1		)	145
Assets sold during the period	—			—			23			—			23
Purchases, Sales and Settlements	6			—			7			(2		)	11
Transfers in and/or out of Level 3	—			—			—			—			—
Total at December 31, 2015	$	25		$	—		$	1,872		$	54		$	1,951

The primary investment objectives of the pension plans are to achieve the highest rate of total return within prudent levels of risk and liquidity, to diversify and mitigate potential downside risk associated with the investments, and to provide adequate liquidity for benefit payments and portfolio management.

The company’s U.S. and U.K. pension plans comprise 91 percent of the total pension assets. Both the U.S. and U.K. plans have an Investment Committee that regularly meets during the year to review the asset holdings and their returns. To assess the plans’ investment performance, long-term asset allocation policy benchmarks have been established.

For the primary U.S. pension plan, the company's Benefit Plan Investment Committee has established the following approved asset allocation ranges: Equities 40–70 percent, Fixed Income and Cash 20–60 percent, Real Estate 0–15 percent, and Other 0–5 percent. For the U.K. pension plan, the U.K. Board of Trustees has established the following asset allocation guidelines: Equities 30–50 percent, Fixed Income and Cash 35–65 percent, and Real Estate 5–15 percent. The other significant international pension plans also have established maximum and minimum asset allocation ranges that vary by plan. Actual asset allocation within approved ranges is based on a variety of current economic and market conditions and consideration of specific asset class risk. To mitigate concentration and other risks, assets are invested across multiple asset classes with active investment managers and passive index funds.

The company does not prefund its OPEB obligations.

Cash Contributions and Benefit Payments In 2015, the company contributed $641 and $227 to its U.S. and international pension plans, respectively. In 2016, the company expects contributions to be approximately $650 to its U.S. plans and $250 to its international pension plans. Actual contribution amounts are dependent upon investment returns, changes in pension obligations, regulatory environments and other economic factors. Additional funding may ultimately be required if investment returns are insufficient to offset increases in plan obligations.

The company anticipates paying OPEB benefits of approximately $191 in 2016; $196 was paid in 2015.

The following benefit payments, which include estimated future service, are expected to be paid by the company in the next 10 years:

	Pension Benefits				Other
	U.S.		Int’l.		Benefits
2016	$	1,462	$	284	$	191
2017	$	1,384	$	297	$	195
2018	$	1,360	$	467	$	199
2019	$	1,329	$	339	$	203
2020	$	1,287	$	346	$	207
2021-2025	$	5,804	$	1,822	$	1,053

Employee Savings Investment Plan Eligible employees of Chevron and certain of its subsidiaries participate in the Chevron Employee Savings Investment Plan (ESIP). Compensation expense for the ESIP totaled $316, $316 and $163 in 2015, 2014 and 2013, respectively. The amount for ESIP expense in 2013 is net of $140, which reflects the value of common stock released from the former leveraged employee stock ownership plan (LESOP). LESOP debt was retired in 2013, and all remaining shares were released.

Benefit Plan Trusts Prior to its acquisition by Chevron, Texaco established a benefit plan trust for funding obligations under some of its benefit plans. At year-end 2015, the trust contained 14.2 million shares of Chevron treasury stock. The trust will sell the shares or use the dividends from the shares to pay benefits only to the extent that the company does not pay such benefits. The company intends to continue to pay its obligations under the benefit plans. The trustee will vote the shares held in the trust as instructed by the trust’s beneficiaries. The shares held in the trust are not considered outstanding for earnings-per-share purposes until distributed or sold by the trust in payment of benefit obligations.

Prior to its acquisition by Chevron, Unocal established various grantor trusts to fund obligations under some of its benefit plans, including the deferred compensation and supplemental retirement plans. At December 31, 2015 and 2014, trust assets of $36 and $38, respectively, were invested primarily in interest-earning accounts.

Employee Incentive Plans The Chevron Incentive Plan is an annual cash bonus plan for eligible employees that links awards to corporate, business unit and individual performance in the prior year. Charges to expense for cash bonuses were $690, $965 and $871 in 2015, 2014 and 2013, respectively. Chevron also has the LTIP for officers and other regular salaried employees of the company and its subsidiaries who hold positions of significant responsibility. Awards under the LTIP consist of stock options and other share-based compensation that are described in Note 22, beginning on page FS-50.