Summary: The job my wife and I left this past Friday (after about 21 years combined) had turned sour years ago; hoping that this serves as a cautionary tale to others, we’ve decided to show pension lapses, lack of payslips, and excuses that accompanied that for years

LAST night we wrote about Sirius ‘Open Source’ being in violation of payslips-related regulations — a subject that I kept warning about from inside the company. This post presents some supportive evidence, citing in particular one of countless times I raised this subject, sometimes repeatedly just in order to receive any reply at all. I even escalated several levels before receiving a very belated reply. Does that mean Sirius has negligent and lazy management? Does it mean it is hiding something big? Or many things combined?

Are funds being misused (like pre-allocation of separation fees)?

The issue with payslips is related to the pension issues, so presented below are those two inter-connected issues. It started with 2019 letters regarding problems that had started in 2018.

My wife Rianne received the following in 2019.

Subject: IMPORTANT – Missing Contributions reported to The Pension Regulator for Sirius Corporation Ltd
Date: 12 Mar 2019 18:39:02 +0000
From: ???????????????
To: ???????????????

Dear Mrs Schestowitz

??????????????? Trust (“the Plan”)

We are writing to you because we have recently advised The Pensions Regulator (TPR) that we believe there are gaps in the pension contribution records and payments as provided to us by Sirius Corporation Ltd. According to our records you were in their employment during the period in question. However it is of course possible that you were not making pension contributions at that time.

We are required by law to monitor the accurate payment of contributions; to report missing amounts to TPR after a prescribed period of time and to then notify members.

Further information about employers’ responsibilities around pension contributions can be found here http://www.thepensionsregulator.gov.uk/employers/contributions-funding.aspx#s9380

Where are the gaps?

As of 11th February 2019 our records suggest that we have not collected all contributions in relation to the following months:

Earliest Month Latest Month
September 2018 September 2018

What happens next?

TPR may now be in contact with your employer and may provide a deadline for them to rectify the situation. If they fail to do so then an initial fine and escalating penalties for your employer are likely.

If you wish to understand more about this situation and how it may or may not affect you directly we would ask that you refer in the first instance to your employer. If you wish to talk to us about any other aspects of your participation in the ??????????????? Trust please call our member support line on ???????????????.

Important Note

We will never contact you by email to request or provide financial information or make any contribution payments. If you receive any such requests, please do not take any action.

Yours sincerely

???????????????

???????????????
???????????????

???????????????
???????????????

In 2019 physical copies started coming as well. As we shall see (or show herein) later on, two years later it happened again, so this wasn’t just some one-off incident.

Subject: IMPORTANT – Missing Contributions reported to The Pension Regulator for Sirius Corporation Ltd
Date: 10 Apr 2019 11:10:28 +0100
From: ???????????????
To: ???????????????

Dear Mrs Schestowitz

??????????????? Trust (“the Plan”)

We are writing to you because we have recently advised The Pensions Regulator (TPR) that we believe there are gaps in the pension contribution records and payments as provided to us by Sirius Corporation Ltd. According to our records you were in their employment during the period in question. However it is of course possible that you were not making pension contributions at that time.

We are required by law to monitor the accurate payment of contributions; to report missing amounts to TPR after a prescribed period of time and to then notify members.

Further information about employers’ responsibilities around pension contributions can be found here http://www.thepensionsregulator.gov.uk/employers/contributions-funding.aspx#s9380

Where are the gaps?

As of 11th March 2019 our records suggest that we have not collected all contributions in relation to the following months:

Earliest Month Latest Month
September 2018 October 2018

What happens next?

TPR may now be in contact with your employer and may provide a deadline for them to rectify the situation. If they fail to do so then an initial fine and escalating penalties for your employer are likely.

If you wish to understand more about this situation and how it may or may not affect you directly we would ask that you refer in the first instance to your employer. If you wish to talk to us about any other aspects of your participation in the ??????????????? Trust please call our member support line on ???????????????.

Important Note

We will never contact you by email to request or provide financial information or make any contribution payments. If you receive any such requests, please do not take any action.

Yours sincerely

???????????????

???????????????
???????????????

???????????????
???????????????

And again a month later:

Subject: IMPORTANT – Missing Contributions reported to The Pension Regulator for Sirius Corporation Ltd
Date: 13 May 2019 10:39:24 +0100
From: ???????????????
To: ???????????????

Dear Mrs Schestowitz

??????????????? Trust (“the Plan”)

We are writing to you because we have recently advised The Pensions Regulator (TPR) that we believe there are gaps in the pension contribution records and payments as provided to us by Sirius Corporation Ltd. According to our records you were in their employment during the period in question. However it is of course possible that you were not making pension contributions at that time.

We are required by law to monitor the accurate payment of contributions; to report missing amounts to TPR after a prescribed period of time and to then notify members.

Further information about employers’ responsibilities around pension contributions can be found here http://www.thepensionsregulator.gov.uk/employers/contributions-funding.aspx#s9380

Where are the gaps?

As of 8th April 2019 our records suggest that we have not collected all contributions in relation to the following months:

Earliest Month Latest Month
September 2018 November 2018

What happens next?

TPR may now be in contact with your employer and may provide a deadline for them to rectify the situation. If they fail to do so then an initial fine and escalating penalties for your employer are likely.

If you wish to understand more about this situation and how it may or may not affect you directly we would ask that you refer in the first instance to your employer. If you wish to talk to us about any other aspects of your participation in the ??????????????? Trust please call our member support line on ???????????????.

Important Note

We will never contact you by email to request or provide financial information or make any contribution payments. If you receive any such requests, please do not take any action.

Yours sincerely

???????????????

???????????????

???????????????

???????????????

???????????????

In 2021 both of us started receiving the same again, e.g.:

Subject: IMPORTANT – Missing Contributions reported to The Pension Regulator for Schestowitz
Date: 11 Mar 2021 11:52:42 +0000
From: ???????????????
To: roy.schestowitz@siriusopensource.com

Dear Dr R

??????????????? Trust (“the Plan”)

We are writing to you because we have recently advised The Pensions
Regulator (TPR) that we believe there are gaps in the pension
contribution records and payments as provided to us by Schestowitz.
According to our records you were in their employment during the period
in question. However it is of course possible that you were not making
pension contributions at that time.

We are required by law to monitor the accurate payment of contributions;
to report missing amounts to TPR after a prescribed period of time and
to then notify members.

Further information about employers’ responsibilities around pension
contributions can be found here

http://www.thepensionsregulator.gov.uk/employers/contributions-funding.aspx#s9380

Where are the gaps?

As of 10 February 2021 our records suggest that we have not collected
all contributions in relation to the following months:

Earliest Month Latest Month
Sirius Corporation Ltd May 2020

What happens next?

TPR may now be in contact with your employer and may provide a deadline
for them to rectify the situation. If they fail to do so then an initial
fine and escalating penalties for your employer are likely.

If you wish to understand more about this situation and how it may or
may not affect you directly we would ask that you refer in the first
instance to your employer. If you wish to talk to us about any other
aspects of your participation in the ??????????????? Trust please call our
member support line on ???????????????

Important Note

We will never contact you by email to request or provide financial
information or make any contribution payments. If you receive any such
requests, please do not take any action.

Yours sincerely

???????????????

???????????????

???????????????

??????????????? is a leading UK workplace pension provider. We look after
the pension savings of tens of thousands of employers and millions of
members from a wide range of industry sectors.

We have a clear mission – to fight for a fair pension system that
benefits everyone. Not only does this mean achieving the best financial
outcomes for our own members, but also playing our part in ensuring that
all pension savers get the retirement they deserve. We do this by
highlighting pension inequalities and campaigning for change.

We are the UK’s third largest auto enrolment pension provider by number
of members.

???????????????

???????????????

And hers (we assume other colleagues received the same):

Subject: IMPORTANT – Missing Contributions reported to The Pension Regulator for Sirius Corporation Ltd
Date: 12 Jan 2021 11:49:13 +0000
From: ???????????????
To: ???????????????

Dear Mrs Schestowitz

??????????????? Trust (“the Plan”)

We are writing to you because we have recently advised The Pensions Regulator (TPR) that we believe there are gaps in the pension contribution records and payments as provided to us by Sirius Corporation Ltd. According to our records you were in their employment during the period in question. However it is of course possible that you were not making pension contributions at that time.

We are required by law to monitor the accurate payment of contributions; to report missing amounts to TPR after a prescribed period of time and to then notify members.

Further information about employers’ responsibilities around pension contributions can be found here http://www.thepensionsregulator.gov.uk/employers/contributions-funding.aspx#s9380

Where are the gaps?

As of 11 December 2020 our records suggest that we have not collected all contributions in relation to the following months:

Earliest Month Latest Month
May 2020 May 2020

What happens next?

TPR may now be in contact with your employer and may provide a deadline for them to rectify the situation. If they fail to do so then an initial fine and escalating penalties for your employer are likely.

???????????????
Important Note

We will never contact you by email to request or provide financial information or make any contribution payments. If you receive any such requests, please do not take any action.

Yours sincerely

???????????????

???????????????

???????????????

???????????????
???????????????
We are the UK’s third largest auto enrolment pension provider by number of members.

???????????????
???????????????

And again:

Subject: IMPORTANT – Missing Contributions reported to The Pension Regulator for Sirius Corporation Ltd
Date: 10 Feb 2021 10:47:09 +0000
From: ???????????????
To: ???????????????

Dear Mrs Schestowitz

??????????????? Trust (“the Plan”)

We are writing to you because we have recently advised The Pensions Regulator (TPR) that we believe there are gaps in the pension contribution records and payments as provided to us by Sirius Corporation Ltd. According to our records you were in their employment during the period in question. However it is of course possible that you were not making pension contributions at that time.

We are required by law to monitor the accurate payment of contributions; to report missing amounts to TPR after a prescribed period of time and to then notify members.

Further information about employers’ responsibilities around pension contributions can be found here http://www.thepensionsregulator.gov.uk/employers/contributions-funding.aspx#s9380

Where are the gaps?

As of 13 January 2021 our records suggest that we have not collected all contributions in relation to the following months:

Earliest Month Latest Month
May 2020 June 2020

What happens next?

TPR may now be in contact with your employer and may provide a deadline for them to rectify the situation. If they fail to do so then an initial fine and escalating penalties for your employer are likely.

If you wish to understand more about this situation and how it may or may not affect you directly we would ask that you refer in the first instance to your employer. If you wish to talk to us about any other aspects of your participation in the ??????????????? Trust please call our member support line on ?????????????.

Important Note

We will never contact you by email to request or provide financial information or make any contribution payments. If you receive any such requests, please do not take any action.

Yours sincerely

???????????????

???????????????

???????????????

??????????????? is a leading UK workplace pension provider. We look after the pension savings of tens of thousands of employers and millions of members from a wide range of industry sectors.

We have a clear mission – to fight for a fair pension system that benefits everyone. Not only does this mean achieving the best financial outcomes for our own members, but also playing our part in ensuring that all pension savers get the retirement they deserve. We do this by highlighting pension inequalities and campaigning for change.

We are the UK’s third largest auto enrolment pension provider by number of members.

???????????????

???????????????

And one day later:

Subject: IMPORTANT – Missing Contributions reported to The Pension Regulator for Schestowitz
Date: 11 Mar 2021 11:52:42 +0000
From: ???????????????
To: ???????????????

Dear Ms R

??????????????? Trust (“the Plan”)

We are writing to you because we have recently advised The Pensions Regulator (TPR) that we believe there are gaps in the pension contribution records and payments as provided to us by Schestowitz. According to our records you were in their employment during the period in question. However it is of course possible that you were not making pension contributions at that time.

We are required by law to monitor the accurate payment of contributions; to report missing amounts to TPR after a prescribed period of time and to then notify members.

Further information about employers’ responsibilities around pension contributions can be found here http://www.thepensionsregulator.gov.uk/employers/contributions-funding.aspx#s9380

Where are the gaps?

As of 10 February 2021 our records suggest that we have not collected all contributions in relation to the following months:

Earliest Month Latest Month
Sirius Corporation Ltd May 2020

What happens next?

TPR may now be in contact with your employer and may provide a deadline for them to rectify the situation. If they fail to do so then an initial fine and escalating penalties for your employer are likely.

If you wish to understand more about this situation and how it may or may not affect you directly we would ask that you refer in the first instance to your employer. If you wish to talk to us about any other aspects of your participation in the ??????????????? Trust please call our member support line on ????????????.

Important Note

We will never contact you by email to request or provide financial information or make any contribution payments. If you receive any such requests, please do not take any action.

Yours sincerely

???????????????

???????????????

???????????????

??????????????? is a leading UK workplace pension provider. We look after the pension savings of tens of thousands of employers and millions of members from a wide range of industry sectors.

We have a clear mission – to fight for a fair pension system that benefits everyone. Not only does this mean achieving the best financial outcomes for our own members, but also playing our part in ensuring that all pension savers get the retirement they deserve. We do this by highlighting pension inequalities and campaigning for change.

We are the UK’s third largest auto enrolment pension provider by number of members.

???????????????

???????????????

By that point, many payslips (which can verify if pension contributions were paid) were not being sent, neither physically nor electronically.

My wife and I were both impacted, so I asked:

Subject: July’s payslip?
Date: Mon, 9 Aug 2021 17:41:58 +0100
From: ???????????????
Organization: Sirius IT
To: ???????????????

Hi ???????????????, can you please send July’s payslip? Thanks. Preferably every
month rather than in bulk once a year. As a matter of employment law,
too.

Regards,

Here’s more from myself:

??????????????? wrote on 09/04/2021 17:07:
>
> Please find attached payslips from April 20 – March 21. These will now
> be sent around the first week of each month going forward.

Hi,

We’re about 2 or 3 months behind now.

Regards,

It kept happening for years. Payslips had to be repeatedly requested again and again. Promises to send them were not being fulfilled. No properly-functioning company should be like this:

Subject: Re: Payslips April 20 – Mar 21
Date: Fri, 9 Apr 2021 23:45:34 +0100
From: ???????????????
Organization: Sirius IT
To: ???????????????

??????????????? wrote on 09/04/2021 17:07:
> Hi Roy,
>
> Please find attached payslips from April 20 – March 21. These will now
> be sent around the first week of each month going forward.
>
> You will see they show bank holidays even though you didn’t take them,
> there was a default setting which we were unaware of however this should
> now only show on payslips if they are taken.
>
> Kind Regards,
>
> ???????????????

Thanks ???????????????!

The letters sent in the post are shown at the top. There were probably more, but we don’t need to show all of them, merely a sub-sample.

Looking back at the whole thing, the company turned into a total disaster, a train wreck. When I joined in 2011 there was devoted and properly-trained in-house accounting staff, not some ad hoc personal assistant, an imposter who pretends to be “manager”.

All the accounting people left later on (maybe around 2012), leaving a gap in checks and balances. Transparency was eroding and colleagues were leaving every year, many of whom never to be replaced (not with suitably qualified people anyway). Hiring of relatives who lack any suitable degree or work experience became far too common. Some people joined and left months later.

Meanwhile Sirius also changed pension providers (fragmentation), which meant staff had to keep track of several providers. A lot of the accounting was being outsourced.

In 2011 I was greeted by the in-house accountant, who wrote:

> Hi All
>
> ??????????????? would like to come and meet you all to run through some
> things with you, could you please suggest some dates that you would all
> be available to come into the office to talk with him about your
> individual pensions, I really need you all on the same day. I will
> confirm a day when I get your response.
>
> Many thanks
>
> ???????????????

Hi ???????????????,

I have just come back. I am catching up with mail. Is there a date specified yet?

A lot of these meetings never even happened as the person above left a short while afterwards. The company did not bother announcing this.

Fast-forward a decade and staff was running out of patience, especially in light of a pension lapse (again and again and again), not to mention a lack of payslips.

I wrote to the founder of the company on 12/03/2021:

Hi ???????????????,

I’ve just received a formal letter from ???????????????, not for the first time. It suggests that there’s some anomaly in the way the employer handles the pension. Rianne has been getting several of the same letters too. Does that mean someone isn’t correctly handling the accounting with them?

Regards,

Roy

5 days later still no reply. Nothing.

On 17/03/2021 I followed up:

Hi,

Any followup on this? I also think it’s important to still receive a payslip each month, whether as PDF of by post.

Regards,

And the following day again (already with more recipients (18/03/2021):

> Hi,
>
> Any followup on this? I also think it’s important to still receive a
> payslip each month, whether as PDF of by post.
>
> Regards,

Any update?

Later on the same day (18/03/2021) I was told that a week after the original inquiry there might finally be a response (or cover-up/excuses):

> Hi Roy,
>
> Yes there will be an update sent from ???????????????.
>
> As for the payslips, I will send a batch to you (this is taking longer
> than expected as I am also doing it for everyone) and then will send
> them monthly again.
>
> Kind Regards,

Thanks, ???????????????.

Of course payslips would not resume after that. I kept chasing them and early this year it was becoming pointless to even ask. On 01/04/2021 I wrote:

> As for the payslips, I will send a batch to you (this is taking longer
> than expected as I am also doing it for everyone) and then will send
> them monthly again.

Which day of the month will they be sent?

Thanks,

Over time the tone escalated somewhat. I wrote about half a dozen messages bemoaning that payslips stopped being sent. I also reminded the founder that it was a legal obligation to send these, as per the actual law. Their side of the contract wasn’t honoured and I barely even received a reply when raising these perfectly legitimate points.

What sane person would stay in such a company for another year?

This entry was posted on Wednesday, December 7th, 2022 at 7:09 pm and is filed under Personal. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.