<prompt> Human: My work suddenly started letting employees know they offer a 401K and apparently have for years news to me. They asked if I would be interested in enrolling and I asked what the advantages are if they arent matching. The HR guy goes on to tell me that if they even offer a 401K plan I can no longer contribute to an IRA tax free. This guy never knows what hes talking about and wouldnt even consider he might be wrong.I did some quite research but the IRS language is vague. Is this true? Am I being forced to join their super shitty non-matching, high fee 401K if I want to contribute pre-tax?Edit: Just to clarify, I make enough to contribute to an IRA, 401K, etc. but not enough to be affected by the IRS income limits. I am not currently enrolled in my employers 401K, the HR guy was just pressuring me to say I would enroll. Also, just found out that only some employees were notified that this 401K program even exists. It seems that some employees had it excluded from their new hire paperwork, even though they might be at the same page grade and full time status as someone who was offered the 401K. During my interview, both my boss and the CEO specifically told me a 401K program might happen in the future, but wasnt available now. My boss was in the dark about this 401K plan and is now livid to find out shes been excluded from the option of a 401K for three years. Apparently, everything theyve done violates ERISA and my boss is mad enough to see if its possible to sue.Edit 2: I love that my first visit to the front page is a rage post about 401Ks and my shady work. It is perfect! Also, it has been duly proven that the HR guy is full of shit and had no idea what hes talking about. Saved by the internet once again.Assistant: After doing more research I can say pretty confidently that the HR guy is way wrong and was basically misleading me. I make nowhere near enough to not be eligible to contribute. It seems its only an issue if I actually enroll.I also take issue with only some employees being offered or even made aware that this 401K plan even exists. In fact, no mention of the plan was in my hire paperwork and I started this job just 6 months ago. That doesnt really seem legal.Human: This should be one of the questions you ask an employer, and there are places where you have to wait 6 months before enrolling.Assistant: I actually did ask during the interview several times because my previous job offered a badass 401K that I was sad to leave behind. My boss AND the owner were emphatic that we didnt have a 401K. My boss is as mad as I am about this.Human: This is the first time a 401k has ever been referred to as badass Assistant: If I put in 3 they would put in 6. You dont see that deal very often anymore.  <response>: Very nice. Im getting by with matching the first 3 and matching half on an additional 2. No matching beyond 5 total. 