Questions that employers can expect to be faced with when talking to employees about pensions have been set out in guidelines by the Pensions Regulator (TPR) and the Financial Services Authority (FSA), in the jointly published Guide for employers: talking to your employees about pensions.

The leaflet suggests answers and sources of information that employees can look at for further help, and is aimed at employers with defined benefit (DB), defined contribution (DC) and contract-based schemes.

TPR's statement reassured employers that the leaflet does not increase their responsibilities, but encourages them to look at voluntary activities to help their employees to get the most out of their pension scheme.

"As DC becomes a more prominent part of the pensions landscape; more members will bear a greater direct responsibility for the outcome of their savings," commented David Norgrove, chairman at TPR.

"We expect that employees will approach their employers for information and support - as we know employees consider their employers to be a trustworthy source of information about pensions. Our aim is to help employers build confidence in talking about pensions - without worrying about breaching rules on financial advice."

Norgrove added that TPR and the FSA hope the guidance will encourage employers to be more open and comfortable about pensions: "As part of the preparations for 2012 when they will have a legal duty to enrol their employees into a qualifying pension scheme and will need to be much more engaged with the pensions they provide."

TPR and the FSA have, reportedly, jointly published the information as they both believe that more engaged and confident employers can better support employees in their preparation for retirement.

The leaflet has been congratulated in the pensions arena, with Paul Jayson, a partner at Barnett Waddingham LLP, commenting: "As more and more people are left to their own devices to make pension provisions the risk that retirement income could be woefully inadequate is gradually being recognised. It is good to see the Pensions Regulator and FSA working together in this initiative to educate individuals to help them make choices now, while there is still time. There is still further to go and it is hoped that this is merely the first step in a programme of measures to empower people to make informed decisions for their retirement."

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