The number of employers providing their employees with information on their pensions has increased significantly over the past three years, according to the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).

The DWP’s Employer engagement survey 2018 revealed that 83 per cent of employers had reported providing information about workplace pensions to their employees, up from 58 per cent in 2015/16.

It also found that 59 per cent of employers had informed their staff about new flexibilities relating to pension freedoms, compared to 42 per cent in 2015/16.

Although their provisions of information improved, the number of employers seeking information on workplace pensions and automatic enrolment remained at similar levels, just over 65 per cent.

This is despite the number of employees automatically enrolled in workplace schemes increasing significantly during this period.

The survey also revealed that pensions remained the most common reason for employers to contact the DWP, with 59 per cent of respondents saying they did in 2018.

This represents a slight increase from 2015/16, when 55 per cent of employers contacted the DWP about pension-related subject matter.

The results were based on 4,201 telephone interviews of British employers, conducted between February and June 2018. The research was commissioned by the DWP and conducted by IFF research.

In its report, the DWP stated: “The survey is designed to develop understanding of employers’ recruitment practices and their experiences of the services offered by the DWP. This will enable employer views to be fed into operational management and policy development.

“Employer perceptions of DWP services and policies are important in better understanding how employers view what the department delivers, and to help us understand and address any concerns.”

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