Of those employers that have auto-enrolled staff into a workplace pension and have calculated their opt-out rate, more than half (56%) found that less than 10% of their staff opted out of their pension plan.

No respondents to the Employee Benefits/Capita Pensions Research 2013 had an opt-out rate higher than 29%.

However, of the total number of respondents that had auto-enrolled, 58% said it was too early to assess their opt-out rates.

At the time that this research, conducted among xxx HR and benefits professionals, took place, only large employers had auto-enrolled staff.

Given the small sample size and the large number of respondents that had not yet calculated opt-out rates, the research could not be conclusive as to whether these rates are in line with employer expectations.

However, the predicted opt-out rates among both employers that have auto-enrolled staff and those are still to do so were remarkably similar, with around half expecting opt-out rates of less than 19%.

[BAR CHART]

Proportion of employers that experienced each level of opt-out rate among staff

None 1%

1-4% of staff 13%

5-9% of staff 11%

10-19% of staff 12%

20-29% of staff 5%

too early to tell 58%

Sample: Those who have auto-enrolled staff (92 respondents)

Level of opt-out among employers that have calculated this

None 3%

1%-4% of staff 31%

5%-9% of staff 26%

10%-19% of staff 28%

20%-29% of staff 13%

Sample: Those who have auto-enrolled staff and calculated opt out rate (39 respondents)

Predicted levels of opt-out for auto-enrolment

None 7% (a) 11% (b)

1-9% of staff 33% (a) 36% (b)

10-19% of staff 16% (a) 19% (b)

20-29% of staff 21% (a) 7% (b)

30-39% of staff 12% (a) 3% (b)

40-100% of staff 12% (a) 14% (b)

Not calculated 19% (b) [there is no ‘e’ bar]

(a) = Those who have auto-enrolled staff (92 respondents)

(b) = Those who still have to auto-enrol staff (232 respondents)

Read the full version of Employee Benefits/Capita Pensions Research 2013 [[ADD LINK TO DIGITAL VERSION]