{"id":2085,"date":"2017-08-28T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2017-08-27T23:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/five-things-you-didnt-know-about-auto-enrolment-but-probably-should\/"},"modified":"2026-01-29T10:48:17","modified_gmt":"2026-01-29T10:48:17","slug":"five-things-you-didnt-know-about-auto-enrolment-but-probably-should","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/five-things-you-didnt-know-about-auto-enrolment-but-probably-should\/","title":{"rendered":"Five things you didn&#8217;t know about auto enrolment, but probably should"},"content":{"rendered":"<header class=\"entry-header has-dark-background-color entry-header--has-illustration entry-header--has-illustration--generic\">\n\t<div class=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"entry-header__row row align-center\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"col col-lg-7 col-xlg-6 entry-header__content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"component component-single-header\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"entry-header__misc text--subtitle text--uppercase text--small\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/category\/people-leadership\/\" class=\"entry-header__link\">People &amp; Leadership<\/a>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"entry-title-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h1 class=\"entry-title\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\tFive things you didn&#8217;t know about auto enrolment, but probably should\t\t\t\t\t<\/h1>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"entry-header__description\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\t<div class=\"single-post-details container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"col\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"posted-on \"><time class=\"entry-date published\" datetime=\"2017-08-28T00:00:00+01:00\">28 August, 2017<\/time><\/span><span class=\"reading-time\"> min read<\/span>\n\t\t<button\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\tclass=\"social-share-button button button--icon button--secondary js-social-share-button\"\n\t\t\tdata-share-title=\"Five things you didn&#8217;t know about auto enrolment, but probably should\"\n\t\t\tdata-share-url=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/five-things-you-didnt-know-about-auto-enrolment-but-probably-should\/\"\n\t\t\tdata-share-text=\"Please read this interesting article\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<span class=\"social-share-button__share-label\">Share<\/span>\n\t\t\t<span class=\"social-share-button__copy-label\" hidden>Copy Link<\/span>\n\t\t\t<span class=\"social-share-button__copy-tooltip\" aria-hidden=\"true\" hidden>Copied<\/span>\n\t\t<\/button>\n\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/header>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-author has-dark-background-color alignfull\">\n\t<div class=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"col\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"co-authors\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t<div class=\"entry-author-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t<a class=\"entry-author\" href=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/author\/georgi-rollings\/\">\n\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"40\" height=\"40\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2017\/08\/Georgia-Rollings.jpg\" class=\"entry-author__image\" alt=\"\" \/>\t\t\t\t<span class=\"entry-author__name\">Georgi Rollings<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>The world of pensions is undergoing a major change with the gradual introduction of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/free-guide-to-auto-enrolment-and-workplace-pensions\/\">auto enrolment.<\/a> Billed as the best way to encourage workers to save for their retirement, it is being introduced in stages from 2012 to 2018. Here&#8217;s what you need to know.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-1-it-affects-all-employers\"><strong>1. It affects ALL employers<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>One of the misconceptions around auto enrolment is that it only applies to larger employers. It actually affects ALL employers. The smaller employers (under 50 employees) have later staging dates, but every business with a payroll needs to understand what the impact is for them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-2-pensions-under-auto-enrolment-don-t-have-to-be-with-nest\"><strong>2. Pensions under auto enrolment don&#8217;t have to be with NEST<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>NEST is an independently run pension scheme backed by the Government which was created specifically for auto enrolment. It is however not the only option. There are increasing numbers of qualifying schemes available from the majority of the main pension providers, so it is worth getting independent financial advice to determine which scheme works for your business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-3-auto-enrolment-applies-even-if-you-already-have-a-pension-scheme\"><strong>3. Auto enrolment applies even if you already have a pension scheme<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Even if your business already has a pension scheme, you will still be impacted by auto enrolment:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><figure><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignright wp-image-8730\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2017\/08\/aut-enrolment-300x200.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"270\" height=\"180\"><\/img><\/figure>Does the existing pension scheme meet the qualifying criteria?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>If it does qualify you can carry on using it for existing scheme members, but you will still need to write to them about auto enrolment;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>If it doesn&#8217;t qualify then you will need to choose another scheme that does;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The workforce still needs to be assessed<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-4-who-makes-the-contributions-to-the-pension-scheme\"><strong>4. Who makes the contributions to the pension scheme?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Under auto enrolment both employers and employees contribute to the pension scheme. The statutory contribution levels will gradually increase over time, and contributions are based on &#8220;qualifying earnings&#8221;. By October 2018 the employer minimum contribution will be 3%, and the total minimum contribution will be 8%.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-5-the-responsibility-for-complying-rests-with-the-employer\"><strong>5. The responsibility for complying rests with the employer<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>There is a lot of information out there to help you work through auto enrolment, but it is up to the employer to comply with their legal responsibilities. If you don&#8217;t know how auto enrolment is going to affect your business then you need to start planning for it soon. Why not <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thepensionsregulator.gov.uk\/employers\/tools\/staging-date.aspx\">take a look today<\/a> to identify your staging date.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"single-cta gated-content\">\n\t<div class=\"single-cta__positioner\">\n\t\t<div class=\"single-cta__wrapper has-dark-background-color\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"single-cta__content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"single-cta__title h3\">The ultimate guide to auto enrolment<\/h2>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"single-cta__description\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Everything you need to know about auto enrolment, re-enrolment and workplace pensions in one clear and concise guide.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a\n\t\t\t\t\t\thref=\"#gate-745cc300-807f-403d-9407-3a0d054ec867\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\tclass=\"single-cta__button button button--primary\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t>Get your free guide<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1440\" height=\"810\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2022\/04\/GettyImages-1213042683-1440x810.jpg\" class=\"single-cta__image\" alt=\"Working on strategy and financials\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2022\/04\/GettyImages-1213042683-1440x810.jpg 1440w\" sizes=\"auto, (min-width: 48em) 33vw, 100vw\" \/>\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The world of pensions is undergoing a major change with the gradual introduction of auto enrolment. Billed as the best way to encourage workers to save for their retirement, it is being introduced in stages from 2012 to 2018. Here&#8217;s what you need to know. 1. It affects ALL employers One of the misconceptions around [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":153,"featured_media":1843,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_sage_video":false,"post_featured_image_hide":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[10],"tags":[31,41,37],"business_type":[4,3],"lilypad":[],"context":[],"industry":[],"persona":[],"imagine_tag":[92],"coauthors":[414],"class_list":["post-2085","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-people-leadership","tag-auto-enrolment","tag-hr-process","tag-payroll","business_type-small-business","business_type-medium-sized-business"],"sage_meta":{"region":"en-gb","author_name":"Georgi Rollings","featured_image":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2017\/08\/skender-2026_cc.jpg","imagine_tags":{"92":"HR and Payroll"}},"distributor_meta":false,"distributor_terms":false,"distributor_media":false,"distributor_original_site_name":"Sage Advice UK","distributor_original_site_url":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog","push-errors":false,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2085","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/users\/153"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2085"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2085\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/media\/1843"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2085"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2085"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2085"},{"taxonomy":"business_type","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/business_type?post=2085"},{"taxonomy":"lilypad","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/lilypad?post=2085"},{"taxonomy":"context","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/context?post=2085"},{"taxonomy":"industry","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/industry?post=2085"},{"taxonomy":"persona","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/persona?post=2085"},{"taxonomy":"imagine_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/imagine_tag?post=2085"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=2085"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}