auto enrollment & Entry Dates

[TPApril]

I'm curious, for plans that set up auto enrollment, is this generally set up with immediate entry, or a longer period, say 3 months? Do participants feel like they are getting a pay decrease when this happens?

[EPCRSGuru]

My company does 60 days.  During that time we send information about the plan and auto-enrollment so people have an opportunity to enroll themselves or opt out before the salary deferrals begin.  (Our default deferral percentage is only 3% and we worry that people will allow themselves to be auto-enrolled at 3% as opposed to affirmatively electing a higher percentage.)  We have a very low opt-out rate and no complaints.  We also allow permissible withdrawals for people who somehow miss all our communications.  The "pay decrease" is not an issue for most people because of the accompanying decrease in tax withholding.