Firms urged to check summer staff pension duties or face fines

A new campaign is warning employers of summer staff that their pension duties still apply – even if they are hiring for just a few weeks.

The Pensions Regulator (TPR) launched the initiative over concerns temporary workers may miss out on the pensions they are due.

The public body is targeting employers in the construction industry through a social media campaign warning: “If you employ temporary construction staff this summer, you must check your legal pensions duties towards them. Don’t risk a fine.”

The new campaign, which will run throughout the summer, is aiming to reach more than 200,000 employers, the regulator said.

Joey Patel, director of compliance at TPR, said: “Our message to employers in the construction industry is clear – whether you’re hiring temporary staff for a few days or the whole summer, your legal pension duties still apply.

“We know the vast majority of employers are doing the right thing for their staff and have helped make automatic enrolment a fantastic success, with more than 11 million workers enrolled since 2012.

“But we want to make sure no workers are missing out on a pension they are due.

“In sectors like the construction industry, where employers are likely to hire seasonal staff, eligible workers may be at a greater risk of not getting what they are owed.

“If employers are not sure of their duties, then check up on them. Don’t risk a fine.”

TPR monitors employers of all sizes and has recovered more than £700m in missing pension contributions owed to savers from employers since 2012.

Under the Pensions Act 2008, employers are required to enrol employees in occupational or workplace personal pension schemes.

Any staff aged between 22 and state pension age and who earn over £192 a week, or £833 a month, are considered eligible for automatic enrolment and must be put into a pension scheme that their employer must pay into.

Last month steel-framed building fabricator Buildings UK Midlands Ltd lost its appeal over fines imposed on it by the regulator after it failed to enrol staff on an occupational pension scheme.

The Worcestershire-based firm had been sent notices instructing it to enrol employees on a relevant pension scheme – a requirement under UK law.