17 March 2017

Spot checks are to be carried out on employers across the UK to ensure they comply with auto-enrolment duties.

The inspections are part of The Pensions Regulator’s (TPR) ongoing enforcement activity to ensure employers comply with auto-enrolment obligations and are meeting their pension 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. The spot checks are also there to help employers get back on track or take enforcement action where necessary.

The inspections also serve as a warning to employers. They will show that they cannot ignore the workplace pension and that deliberate non-compliance will not be tolerated.

Executive Director of Automatic Enrolment Charles Counsell has commented. Counsell said: “Auto-enrolment has been a great success so far with more than seven million people now saving into a workplace pension. It’s important employers continue to make contributions into their staff’s pensions. 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.

Mr Counsell added: “As well as investigating any non-compliance, these inspections will also help shine a light on employer behaviour. This will help us see why different types of employers fail and 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.