Pension reforms

From October 2012 the law on workplace pensions is changing and employers will be required to automatically enrol their eligible workers into a workplace pension. Automatic enrolment will only apply if employees meet certain criteria.

Larger employers will go first, with small and medium sized employers following over the next six years.

When do employers have to start enrolling their workers?

The date workers are enrolled depends on the size of the company they work for and is being rolled out over the next six years (this is called a staging date).

• Large employers (with 250 or more workers), will have to start automatically enrolling their workers from October 2012 to February 2014 (some employers may choose to start earlier)
• Medium employers (50 – 249 workers) will have to start automatically enrolling their workers from April 2014 to April 2015
• Small employers (49 workers or less) will have to start automatically enrolling their workers from June 2015 to April 2017
• New employers (established after April 2012) will have to start automatically enrolling their workers from May 2017 to February 2018
• Employers who chose to use Defined Benefit or Hybrid Schemes can delay their staging date until 30 September 2017.

For further information, please click here to download the DWP booklet or alternatively, contact our specialist employment solicitors based in Canary Wharf, London on 020 7956 8699 or email info@rllaw.co.uk.