Procedures for auto enrolment

A question about : Procedures for auto enrolment

Just a quick question. Our employer has e mailed everyone regarding auto enrolment. They have stated that they will be deducting monies from this months salary. They have given 1 weeks notice.

None of us have seen any details regarding the pension scheme.

Are they allowed to deduct monies before giving us any infomation (Ie, is this against pension regulations) and can they only give a weeks notice to deduct the money.

Best answers:

• In essence yes - it makes no difference whether you have the information or not, they will have chosen a pension provider and will deduct the money. You cannot stop them doing this - you can only opt out after the event by contacting the pension company directly and stating you want to opt out (within the required timescale) and requesting the deducted money is refunded. They have no options over this - they cannot allow you to opt out in advance and cannot process an opt out themselves.
  So the way it will work is that you will have the money deducted this month, shortly afterwards you will get a welcome pack from the pension provider which gives you details of the scheme and details of how to opt out if you wish.
  Ideally more communication would have come from the employer to you but to be fair its yet another imposed bit of admin on employers and many are struggling just to get the schemes set up etc. With the pressure on external advisors its also hard to get them timetabled to come in and present information so employers who don't understand this themselves may be left with a choice of struggling to present information themselves or just doing the bare minimum.