Employers and our partners in the pensions and payroll industry have made a major contribution in delivering these landmark reforms since October last year.

Now, one year in, we want to build on this success as medium-sized employers prepare to automatically enrol their staff into a workplace pension. These changes are aimed at streamlining the system and making it easier for employers to meet their duties.

• alternative definitions of pay reference periods for both assessing jobholder status and determining whether a scheme is a qualifying scheme
• the automatic enrolment joining window is extended from one month to 6 weeks
• the deadline for employers to provide information to individuals on their opt in and joining rights is extended to 6 weeks
• the deadlines for registration and postponement notices fit with the extended joining window
• the extended deadline for passing worker contributions to a pension scheme applies to all new joiners (including contract joiners)
• the opt out notice provisions make clear that schemes can customise notices
• there is greater clarity and consistency concerning the requirements for defined benefit test schemes in relation to the appropriate age, service limits and revaluation that apply in those schemes