Most plan sponsors don’t realize they’re already on the clock—and 2026 is when it starts to matter.

The long-term part-time (LT-PT) employee rule has been talked about for years, but now it’s no longer theoretical. If you have employees working 500+ hours and your plan has a year-of-service requirement, there’s a real risk you’re missing eligibility—and that mistake can get expensive fast.

In this episode of The Sentinel Show, Melissa Terito and Kasey Melancon break down:

• What actually qualifies someone as a long-term part-time employee

• Why most employers assume someone else is tracking this (and why that’s a problem)

• When the clock really started—and why calendar math trips everyone up

• What happens if you fail to offer deferrals when required

• The documentation plan sponsors need before it turns into a correction

If you sponsor a retirement plan—or advise companies that do—this is one rule you can’t afford to ignore anymore.