NEST helps you manage the opt-out process

How do workers opt out?

Dealing with workers who want to opt out is part of the employer duties that will start to be introduced from 2012. NEST can help to make it straightforward.

We’re designing the process so that if you choose to use NEST, workers can opt out online or by using our interactive telephone service.

If they choose either of these methods we can help you by:

• letting you know as soon as a worker tells us they want to opt out
• providing a status report on your workers, so you can see who is a NEST member and who isn't
• checking your contribution schedules to make sure you’re not still paying for workers who have opted out

Help to make managing opt outs easier

For the first month after a worker has been automatically enrolled, NEST gives you the choice of paying contributions for that worker straightaway, or waiting until after the opt-out period is over.

You still need to collect the money from the worker’s salary, but if the worker opts out, it will make it easier to process a refund as you are still holding the money.

Who can opt out?

Workers who have been automatically enrolled into NEST and those with qualifying earnings who have opted in have the right to opt out within one month.

What happens after the opt-out period?

After the opt-out period, NEST members can no longer opt out but they can stop contributing if they want. If they do so, contributions already paid will stay in their retirement pot.