The Pensions Regulator spot checks employers in compliance drive
07 March 2017
While compliance remains in the high nineties and workplace saving is now the norm, spot checks are to be carried out on employers across the UK. The inspections are part of The Pensions Regulator’s (TPR) ongoing enforcement activity to ensure employers are meeting their automatic enrolment duties correctly.
Employers TPR judges to be at risk of failing to meet their duties are being visited. As well as providing valuable insight into employer behaviour, the spot checks are to investigate any non-compliance, help employers get back on track or take enforcement action where necessary.
The inspections also serve as a warning to employers that they cannot ignore the workplace pension and that deliberate non-compliance will not be tolerated.
Executive Director of Automatic Enrolment Charles Counsell said:
“Automatic enrolment has been a great success so far with more than seven million people now saving into a workplace pension. It is important employers continue to make contributions into their staff’s pensions and these spot checks make sure ongoing compliance is being maintained. It is not fair to staff if they do not get the pensions contributions they are entitled to by law. We take non-compliance seriously and will take enforcement action when we need to.
As well as investigating any non-compliance, these inspections will also help shine a light on employer behaviour so we can see why different types of employers fail and also identify good practice that others can learn from.”
Employers are given a short period of notice before the inspection and will be from a range of business sectors including those at risk of failing to meet their duties, for example the hospitality and retail sectors.
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