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PayrollPensions

Employers unprepared for impact of 2016 pension changes

by Rob Moss 13 Jan 2015
by Rob Moss 13 Jan 2015

The majority of UK employers have yet to consider the effect that 2016 pension changes to state benefits will have on their occupational pension schemes, according to new research by Mercer.

UK state pensions will be radically overhauled in April 2016 with a new single-tier pension, which replaces five separate elements of the current state pension. The option to “contract out” of the additional state pension will be removed, resulting in an increase in national insurance costs for employers and members.

Seven employers out of 10 with defined-contribution (DC) schemes and 57% of organisations with defined-benefit (DB) schemes have not considered or decided how to address the increase in costs associated with the changes.

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Deborah Cooper, partner at Mercer, said: “The Government’s aim to simplify state pension provision is laudable but the transition will create DB and DC winners and losers. Companies need to be thinking through the implications sooner rather than later.

“In the absence of any action, employers will see payroll costs increase by between 2% and 3% for employees who are still earning benefits in DB pension arrangements. Furthermore, the introduction of the single-tier pension will reduce expected retirement incomes for many members in DC schemes.”

Mercer’s survey analyses responses from 142 employers with nearly one million employees. It aims to understand what amendments are being made by employees in the light of the 2016 changes.

Companies that don’t consider the implications for DC members might find that large numbers of employees are unable to retire.” – Deborah Cooper, Mercer

Of the 43% of employers that had considered the implications of the state pension changes to their DB schemes, almost half were not proposing to amend them.

Respondents with DC schemes were less aware of the impact that the changes will have on their scheme members, with only 40% responding that they had considered the impact they will have on this group.

Mercer analysis suggests that the state pension some employees can expect to receive could be £4,000 per annum less than if the 2016 changes did not go ahead.

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“It is understandable that employers’ focus has been on DB cost increase,” said Cooper, “but for many DC members the introduction of the single-tier pension will reduce their retirement incomes.

“Companies that don’t consider the implications for DC members might find that large numbers of employees are unable to retire and this will have profound impact on career progression, staff motivation and health costs.”

Rob Moss

Rob Moss is a business journalist with more than 25 years' experience. He has been editor of Personnel Today since 2010. He joined the publication in 2006 as online editor of the award-winning website. Rob specialises in labour market economics, gender diversity and family-friendly working. He has hosted hundreds of webinar and podcasts. Before writing about HR and employment he ran news and feature desks on publications serving the global optical and eyewear market, the UK electrical industry, and energy markets in Asia and the Middle East.

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1 comment

Ian Wilder 15 Jan 2015 - 9:05 am

As the HR Manager for an employer with a DC pension scheme, I am uncertain how the changes to the state pension scheme will impact us. I accept of course the impact on employers with DB schemes.

While I understand that a potential reduction in state pension income may cause some employees to review their retirement plans, “retirement” has been an uncertain event since the abolition of the DRA. So we accept that, subject to efficiency and health, employees choose when to leave us and we build the risks associated with the unexpected loss of key employees, in particular, into our succession planning. Other employee departures we manage on a ongoing basis, irrespective of the cause.

Comments are closed.

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