Employers: remember your automatic pension enrolment duties

30 November 2020

With the coronavirus pandemic continuing to impact businesses, the Pensions Regulator is reminding employers that their automatic enrolment (AE) duties apply as normal.

Whether you're a large employer, a new employer with one or more employees, or a business owner who employs seasonal workers, AE duties will apply. Furthermore, the extension of the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS) will not affect these duties. The Pensions Regulator (TPR) continues to assess and review its guidance in line with government support schemes.

Whether all or part of your staff continue or are newly placed on furlough as part of the extension of the CJRS, you have a duty to ensure that you continue to make correct pension contributions into your workplace pension on behalf of your staff. With re-enrolment deadlines on the horizon, TPR seeks to remind employers of the importance of keeping their contact details up to date so they don’t miss important messages about their AE duties.

NEWS: The Pensions Regulator has identified that there may be businesses who, due to changes in staff, particularly with furlough, need to update The Pensions Regulator with details of their current nominated contacts. In recognition of this issue, the Pensions Regulator has updated its COVID guidance for employers to explain the importance of keeping these details up to date.

One of the key points of focus for TPR is to protect savers, and they will continue to monitor employer compliance closely to ensure that staff receive the pensions they are entitled to. They will continue to monitor employer compliance closely to ensure non compliant employers get back on track and their staff receive the pensions they are entitled to.

TPR have published guidance in the form of an employer toolkit, for employers outlining the actions you need to take and includes information about Government’s support for employers, questions around payroll processes and pension contributions, re-enrolment requirements, what employers must do if staff ask to opt out or reduce contributions, as well as guidance for new employers.

For more information, visit www.tpr.gov.uk/employers.

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