More than half (52%) of companies with under 50 employees in the
UK have not informed their employees of the opportunity to invest
in a stakeholder pension, according to the findings of a study
published today by researchers Taylor Nelson Sofres (TNS).
The research of more than 1,000 SMEs revealed that only 76% of
SMEs with 5 – 49 staff have told employees about investing in a
stakeholder pension, even though businesses with five employees or
more and which are not exempt from providing access to a
stakeholder scheme were legally obliged to do so by 5th October
2001.
Amongst those SMEs with under five employees, 27% of employers
had told their staff about stakeholder pension schemes.
The findings also show that employee interest in stakeholder
pensions continues to be low. Amongst those SMEs that had informed
their staff, 59% said that none of their employees had taken up the
opportunity to invest.
Almost half (48%) of employers who have informed employees have
had no reaction from their staff.
