If you employ seasonal or temporary staff over the Christmas period, you must make sure you're complying with your automatic enrolment pension duties.

The warning comes from The Pensions Regulator (TPR) in an online campaign aimed at employers in the sectors most likely to hire temporary workers in the winter.

Even if your additional staff work for you for a few days or weeks, you must assess whether they're eligible to be enrolled into a pension scheme each time you pay them.

As your casual workers may have variable hours and pay, your assessment of who to put into a pension scheme may take more time and effort. TPR has guidance that will help you ensure you're meeting your duties correctly.

Check the steps you need to take to assess and enrol seasonal or temporary staff. (This link opens in a new window) Further guidance is available if you're enrolling staff on irregular hours or incomes (This link opens in a new window).

Postponement

If you know that any of your staff will be working for you for less than three months, you can choose to delay working out who to put into a pension scheme.

Find out more about using postponement (This link opens in a new window).

Don’t hide from your pension duties

The majority of employers are doing the right thing for their staff, but TPR warns that those who fail to comply could face enforcement action, including fines.  

The regulator monitors employers big and small, across all sectors, to make sure staff receive the pensions they are due.

Check your legal duties today! (This link opens in a new window)