In the recent recession, lots of employers slashed or suspended their 401(k) matching contributions, making it even harder for workers to build their nest eggs. Now, the economy seems to be sputtering back to life, and many companies have felt strong enough to restore those matches. But plenty of plans remain unrestored -- and yours might be one of them.

Benefits consultancy Towers Watson surveyed 334 large companies, revealing that 18% had reduced or halted their matching contributions. Hewitt Associates has estimated that, on average, a large company could save $25 million annually by axing its matching program. Only 51% of the cutters had reinstated their matches thus far far.

A few examples from the trenches:

• Eastman Kodak (NYSE: EK) fully restored its match, even though its revenue has been shrinking in recent years. As the company restructures itself with a more digital focus, this might be a bullish signal for its prospects.
• FedEx (NYSE: FDX) has reinstated half its match so far. Better yet, it's recording an uptick in air shipments.
• Motorola (NYSE: MOT) just restored its match this month as it looks forward to the promising new Charm smartphone, designed to compete with the BlackBerry.
• JPMorgan Chase (NYSE: JPM) restored its match last year, and it's pledged to keep its pension plan, too. Investors are waiting to see when it the investment bank will be strong enough to reinstate its dividend as well.
• Ford (NYSE: F): The company said that it reinstated its match even before it was completely out of the woods, in order to boost employee morale and retain workers.

Such reinstatements are auspicious for investors. They signal companies that want to attract and keep employees, and also indicate management's confidence in a company's health.

On the other hand…
Companies that have yet to restore their matches include Sears Holdings (Nasdaq: SHLD). Others, such as FedEx and packaging company Sonoco Products (NYSE: SON), have only implemented a partial restoration at this point.

Lest you wonder why this news matters, remember that matching funds are a big deal for employees. Suppose you earn $75,000 per year, and contribute enough to get your company's full match -- typically 50% of your contributions up to 6% of your salary. That adds up to $2,250 in free money each year. Miss just one year of that, and if your money grows at 10% per year for the next 20 years, your 401(k) will lose out on more than $15,000 total. Ouch.

Worse yet, some companies are depriving workers of several years' worth of matching funds. At $15,000 per year over the long haul, that doesn't take long to add up to serious money.

Changing the rules
In another worrisome move, some companies are now making their employer matching contributions dependent on company profitability. This isn't fair to American workers. After giving up guaranteed pensions, now even their "defined contribution" is starting to get undefined. Without knowing what their employer's chipping in, affected workers will have an even harder time estimating what their 401(k) will provide for them in retirement.

More than ever, your retirement will depend on you -- so don't let it stink. Save aggressively and invest effectively, and look past 401(k)s to include powerful Roth IRAs as well. And if possible, choose your employer carefully. Healthy and growing companies with long records of great benefits and financial support for employees are less likely to mess with their matching funds.

If you heard that your employer cut back on or suspended your 401(k) match, remember how much that loss is costing you, and aim to make up for it through larger contributions of your own, if you can. More importantly, let your employer know you're waiting for the match to be restored.

Suspended matches can hurt, but no matter your nest egg's condition, you can probably still salvage your retirement.