On the go: A number of employers appear to have tried to hide their failure to comply with the law by disguising themselves behind a new name, The Pensions Regulator has revealed.
The watchdog said it is working with The Insolvency Service and other agencies to investigate and take action against employers that are using this method of concealment.
Offences that may have been committed include theft, fraud and wilfully failing to comply with auto-enrolment.
While the majority of employers comply with their occupational pension duties, some are concealing their non-compliance by setting up new businesses, moving their employees across and then dissolving the original business, according to TPR.
The concern is that by changing the name, the employers involved hope to dodge pension contributions.
Investigators are looking into whether some advisers are suggesting to employers that they use this tactic to avoid their workplace pension responsibilities.
TPR is carrying out short-notice inspections on several employers across the UK suspected of shirking their auto-enrolment duties.
Darren Ryder, TPR’s director of automatic enrolment, said: “Some bosses might think that [by] changing the name of their company they can avoid their duties but they should know they are on our radar. We are aware of the camouflage they are trying to use and will not be fooled by it.”
He added: “We will not tolerate any attempt to deny employees the workplace pensions they are entitled to – and will take action against those who try to dodge their duties.”
