The Company is required to automatically enrol employees into a workplace pension scheme to help them to save for their retirement. You will be eligible to enrol into the pension scheme if: •
You earn over the minimum earnings threshold which is set annually by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP)
•
Are aged 22 or over; and
•
Are under the state pension age.
You will be enrolled into the Company’s Auto Enrolment Pension Scheme after three months of joining the Company in accordance with the eligibility described above. This is a contributory pension scheme and requires both the employee and employer to contribute. The employee contributions will be deducted directly from your wages. The rate of contribution is 5% from the Employee and 3% from the Company; however, the contribution rates may escalate as set out by the government. If you decide that you do not want to join the pension scheme, you will be able to opt out within one month of your date of enrolment. In this case, any contributions that have already been taken from your pay will be returned to you and you will be treated as if you had never joined the pension scheme. Employees are strongly advised to take professional advice before deciding not to join this scheme; and should have an alternative retirement savings plan in place. Please be aware that the Company has no legal obligation to contribute to any other scheme. You can stop contributing at any time. In accordance with the pension scheme rules, if you do this, the contributions made by you and the Company up to that point will remain invested in your pension pot until you take your benefits. If you do not meet the joining criteria then you will not automatically become a member of the scheme, but you do have the right to elect to join our pension scheme if you want to. In this case, the same contribution rates and terms will be applicable. However, it should be noted that employees earning less than a minimum level set by the government may be entitled to join the scheme but not receive the employer’s contribution. Employees aged over 74 will not be entitled to join the scheme.
14. TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT Our aim is for your service with the Company to be long and successful. However, if you decide to leave you must give notice, in writing, to your Department Manager. After the first four weeks of service the following minimum periods apply, unless otherwise advised in your offer letter: •
Hourly paid and salaried staff – at least one month’s notice
If the Company gives you notice after four weeks’ or more service, the following minimum periods apply, unless otherwise advised in your offer letter, or in cases of serious misconduct: •
Less than two years’ service – one week
•
Over two years’ service – two weeks
There is then one additional week of notice for each year over two years of service up to a maximum of 12 weeks for 12 years’ service or more. When leaving the Company’s employment for whatever reasons, the Company reserves the rights to deduct from any sums owing to you any sums that you owe to the Company (and by signing these terms you consent to this deduction). The Company may, at its absolute discretion, require you not to attend your place of work for the duration of your notice period and may, at its discretion, relieve you of some or all of your contractual duties during that period. On termination of employment, the Company reserves the right to require employees to leave immediately and make a payment in lieu of notice. You will not for a period of one year after ceasing to be employed by the Company on your own behalf or on behalf of any person firm or Company directly or indirectly:
Arbury Employee Handbook
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