coalnewbie wrote: would your employer send home a spousal approval form,
Yup, I'm sure the male employees get the same form. It has more to do with the 401K IRA type thing than the actual "get done the job" thing. But it is not called "Spousal approval for disbursement of funds". I can't remember the exact title but it was way closer to "Approval to retire" than it was "Approval to move funds". This all came about back in 1995 or 6 when the hospital changed it's retirement plan. It used to be when a nurse retired after a full career they got 80% of their average pay until they died. The spouse and/or estate got nothing if the employee died early or before retirement. Now, over the years you save money in an IRA and that money is your retirement. Now, instead of 80%, they might get about 20%, BUT... that money belongs to the estate. If the employee dies, the spouse or estate gets those funds. Hence, my signature was required. I have no idea what happens if I didn't sign.. I guess the money sits there forever!