The Allen & Overy team (well, Däna Burstow and me) were in Manchester this week for the annual National Association of Pension Funds jamboree.  Very impressive it was too – the greatest number of delegates, the most exhibitors and probably the highest calibre of speakers we have ever had at the NAPF.  I’ve listened to Lord Hutton, Stephanie Flanders (Economics Editor of the BBC), Alistair Darling, László Andor (European Commissioner for Employment) and both the minister and shadow minister for Pensions.  And there’s still Sir Matthew Pinsent to come! (more…)

When is a worker not a worker?  Or perhaps more importantly, when is a contractor an employee so far as auto-enrolment into pension saving is concerned? It’s a question UK employers are going to have to get to grips with over the next few months:  under the new auto-enrolment regime, they will be required to enrol all their qualifying workers (known as ‘eligible jobholders’) into pension saving meeting minimum quality standards, and make contributions on their behalf – but who exactly must be enrolled?  In the modern employment environment, with casual and zero-hours staff, temporary and agency workers and independent contractors all playing a part in the flexible workforce, which workers have the right to be enrolled into a pension scheme? (more…)