AE commentary 2014-2015

Compliance and enforcement
Main implications and outcomes in this chapter
As the number of employers staging rises significantly, we expect to
see an increase in how often we need to use our statutory powers. This
expectation is based on our research among small and micro employers,
which shows that these employers are more likely to leave automatic
enrolment preparations until closer to their staging date, or indeed until
after their staging date, and therefore risk being non-compliant with
their duties. We also expect some will fail to engage with their duties
and it will take a nudge from us through a compliance notice or fixed
penalty notice to encourage them to act. We continue to recommend
that employers prepare early and we will take action against those who
fail to carry out their automatic enrolment duties in respect of their
workers.
We expect employers to note that we are prepared to use our powers
when we need to, and that this encourages others to follow our
guidance and to prepare in good time. We will, of course, continue to
scale up our operations and take appropriate enforcement action as
more employers stage.
We continue
to recommend
that employers
prepare early
and we will take
action against
those who fail
to carry out
their duties.
Automatic enrolment Commentary and analysis: April 2014 – March 2015 29