The Pensions Regulator
(TPR) issued an announcement earlier this year, encouraging small
and medium-sized employers to check when they are required to Auto-Enrol,
after awareness and understanding research indicated that 47 per cent did not
know when they needed to act.
Information released then by the Regulator under the
Freedom of Information Act indicated there were 134 breaches of Auto-Enrolment
duties between October 1 2012 and January 31 2014.
This resulted in 129
instances of informal action being taken, including instructions via telephone,
email, in person, and warning letters. The Regulator also took formal action,
which included issuing four compliance notices and one unpaid contribution
notice, but at the time of the announcement, no fines had yet been issued.
Charles Counsell, executive
director of Auto-Enrolment at the Regulator, said the watchdog has concentrated
on creating a “pro-compliance culture”, so that employers have the information
they need in order to comply with the requirements.
“We are also working with
employers to rectify anything that has gone wrong,” he said. “We have only
needed to use our statutory powers six times, but we are not complacent and
realise that the greatest challenge remains ahead with small and micro
employers.”
For employers concerned about this, we can help. Contact Bernard Macken on 0113 202 9529, or e-mail: bfm@pipllp.co.uk
