PENSION PLAN

We sponsor a frozen defined benefit pension plan. The components of net periodic pension cost were as follows (in thousands):



	Three Months Ended						Nine Months Ended
	October 28, 2017			October 29, 2016			October 28, 2017			October 29, 2016
Employer service cost	$	123		$	85		$	368		$	255
Interest cost on pension benefit obligation	363			400			1,090			1,198
Expected return on plan assets	(407		)	(437		)	(1,222		)	(1,312		)
Amortization of net loss	213			225			637			673
Pension settlement charge	374			—			374			—
Net periodic pension cost	$	666		$	273		$	1,247		$	814

During the three and nine months ended October 28, 2017, we recognized a non-cash pension settlement charge of $0.4 million as a result of lump sum distributions exceeding interest cost for 2017. This settlement was included in selling, general and administrative expenses in our condensed consolidated statements of operation.

Our funding policy is to make contributions to maintain the minimum funding requirements for our pension obligations in accordance with the Employee Retirement Income Security Act. We may elect to contribute additional amounts to maintain a level of funding to minimize the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation premium costs or to cover the short-term liquidity needs of the plan in order to maintain current invested positions. We contributed $0.7 million during the nine months ended October 28, 2017, and we expect to contribute an additional $0.2 million in 2017.