From October 2012, all employers will need to change their approach to pensions with the advent of auto- enrolment rules.

At present the only obligation is to provide access to a stakeholder scheme by those employers with five

or more employees. Currently, employees have to opt in, with many employees choosing not to use this as a method of saving for their future. Additionally, there is no statutory requirement for the employer to make contributions to the scheme.

Between October 2012 and September 2016, depending on the number of workers engaged, employers will become subject

to an auto-enrolment duty, requiring them to automatically enrol eligible “job holders” into a contributory pension scheme.

For further information on this newsletter or any other employment issue, please contact the Client Services Department on 01483 229199 or email annaweeks@espltd.info