Archive for the ‘Employment Law’ Category
Govt eases rules on auto-enrolment?
The second response in the government’s consultation on auto-enrolment was issued late last week.
In the second round of consultations the government propose that employers can ignore certain groups of workers in their assessment. These are:
- Employees who are already contributing to pension savings.
- Employees who are just about to leave.
- Employees who have given notice of their retirement.
- Employees who have cancelled pension membership after being contract joined.
Although it does seem at times with auto enrolment that we are building an aeroplane in the sky these recent suggestions are pragmatic and welcome. If nothing else it shows that the government are listening (and not to your mobile phone calls for a change!) and are prepared to alter the regulations to make them more workable for employers.
The ministry mandarins are working on the proposals as we speak and we’ll have to see what they deliver.
Meanwhile, where this leaves many of the small employers who are facing the daunting task of dealing with auto-enrolment with no advice is debatable.
Steve Clark
Everything you need to know about pensions
Thanks to the legal bods at DLA Piper for putting together their excellent Pensions News publication.
The October 2013 version just landed. It’s got everything in there you could possibly need (or want) to know. From Auto Enrolment to Pension Liberation and updates of what has been happening with The Pensions Regulator, HMRC, DWP and The Treasury it’s got something for everyone.
If you’ve got any involvement in your organisation’s pension planning there is something in there for you. If you read nothing else this month – read this!
Click here for to go to Pensions News.
Steve Clark
Don’t you just love it when……….
Someone does something that saves you a tremendous amount of time.
Well this month’s “Don’t you just love it….” award goes to those legal bods over at DLA Piper for their latest edition of Pensions News.
It’s got all the latest stuff on Auto-Enrolment, The Pensions Regulator, Pension Protection Fund, changes in legislation and so much more. And yet you can have all access to this in the time that you take to drink a nice cup of Nambarrie tea – Northern Ireland’s finest.
If all this suspense is too much click this link to get your pensions fix – courtesy of DLA Piper.
Steve Clark
Automatic Enrolment Earnings Triggers
In case you didn’t see it amongst all the furore about Boris Johnson’s interview with my old school mate Eddie Mair; the Automatic Enrolment (Earnings Trigger and Qualifying Earnings Band)Order 2013 – SI 2013/667, was recently laid before Parliament. This comes into force on 6 April 2013.
The earnings thresholds for 2013/14 are as follows:
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Automatic enrolment eligibility earnings trigger £9,440
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Lower qualifying earnings band limit £5,668
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Upper qualifying earnings band limit £41,450
We’ll be discussing these with 44 Financial clients (if they impact on you at our next pension reform meeting. If you are not already one of our clients and all this is news to you – give us a call on 0116 260 5443 to book an initial consultation at our cost.
If, on the other hand, you want to see Boris Johnson squirm see the BBC interview here.
Steve Clark
Employment Law – what changes in 2013 and beyond
We are grateful to those all round good eggs (after all it is Easter soon) at Wragge & Co for publishing a snapshot of the employment reforms that are on the horizon.
Click here to see the snapshot.
Steve Clark