What are benefits required/negotiable when returning to same employer after 3 years (employed 15 years prior to quitting 3 years ago)

[Guest sshelor]

I left my position voluntarily 3 years ago at a large company in Georgia. I was an independant consultant during that time. They have always wanted me to return, and I'm now considering it. What benefits are required to be reinstated, and which are negotiable. I'm specifically wondering about affect/reinstatement to pension funding and time worked calculation (a guaranteed benefit plan based on last 5 years salary.....but how does that work with two employment periods of 15 years and x years and when does 100% vesting now occur), vacation time, time wait to be enrolled in 401k and health plans etc. What else should I consider?

[Guest Pensions in Paradise]

You state that you were previously an independent consultant with the company. Were you actually an employee of the company? Did you receive a W-2 or a 1099 for pay.

[david rigby]

Perhaps you meant that you have been an "independent consultant" during the three years after you left the prior company?

In general, you should consider the same things anyone would consider in a job search: compensation, benefits, job duites, work environment, opportunity for advancment. Of course that is obvious, but if the job otherwise interests you, getting some "recognition" for the prior service is just a bonus, such as vacation seniority.

Assuming you were a common-law employee and were covered under a qualifed pension or profit-sharing plan, being gone for only 3 years is good, because you may qualify for certain "reinstatment". Since many details are still unknown, that term is used very loosely. Need more info. For example, did you receive a distribution from any qualified plan.