My employee has told me they don't want a pension, so why do I have to put them in?

Even if your employee says they don’t want a pension, you’re still legally required to enrol them — it’s not optional.

Under the Pensions Act 2008, employers must auto-enrol all eligible employees, regardless of their personal preference.

📌 Key Facts About Auto-Enrolment

• Auto-enrolment is mandatory for employees who:

  • Are aged 22 or over

  • Earn at least £192 per week or £833 per month

• You cannot skip enrolment, even if the employee has asked not to be included

• Employers who fail to enrol eligible staff risk penalties from The Pensions Regulator

✅ How Intelligent Payroll Supports You

We take care of the entire auto-enrolment process so it’s simple and compliant:

• We identify eligible employees and automatically enrol them

• If you don’t yet have a pension scheme, we’ll help set one up

• All necessary communications are sent to employees through our system and the pension provider

• We ensure all timelines and requirements are met, protecting your business from compliance risks

🔄 Can the Employee Opt Out?

Yes — after they’ve been enrolled, employees can choose to opt out. Here's how it works:

• Opting out within 30 days: They’ll get a full refund of contributions

• Opting out after 30 days: Contributions will stop going forward, but past contributions won’t be refunded

Employees must submit their opt-out request directly to the pension provider — employers can't remove them from the scheme in advance.

This process ensures you stay compliant while giving employees the freedom to make their own decision — after the legal requirement to enrol has been met.

Need help with enrolment or questions from employees? More information can be found here

📧 Email support@intelligentpayroll.co.uk and we’ll guide you through it.