Millions plan to opt out of auto-enrolment pensions More than half (55pc) of employees said that a pay rise would help them to save more. However, one third (32%) of 700 employers surveyed are looking for alternative ways to motivate workers without "unduly increasing" their pay packets. Automatic enrolment began last autumn with larger companies and around 10 million people will eventually be enrolled into schemes as the Government tackles the pension savings crisis. However, Aviva found that there is still an awareness gap about auto-enrolment, with 87pc of employers saying they know about the reforms compared with 59pc of workers. The report said that more must be done to drive home the benefits of pension saving, with face-to-face conversations and personalised planning. Despite their financial pressures, almost two-thirds (65pc) of workers believe that auto-enrolment will help retirement saving. Almost a quarter said they would feel more encouraged towards saving if they were shown some sort of personal plan. Joanne Segars, chief executive of the National Association of Pension Funds (NAPF), said: "These are undoubtedly tough times for many households, so the benefits of saving need to be spelled out. Quitting a workplace pension can mean losing tax breaks and employer contributions which are effectively 'free money'. We urge businesses and HR departments to reach out to their staff to help them engage with saving. Official figures showed last week that workplace pension scheme membership slipped to a 15-year low in the UK during 2012, with just 46pc of employees belonging to a workplace pension. Less than one third (32pc) of private sector workers were in a pension. Separate research from the Pensions Regulator suggested that some employers need to up their game to make sure they are ready for the changes. The regulator found that while 88pc of large employers have preparations in place, as have 73pc of medium employers, just one third (34%) of smaller firms have started planning. Two-fifths of small firms said they would "leave it as late as possible" before considering how to comply. The regulator urged employers to start their preparations up to 18 months ahead of their enrolment date, including choosing a pension provider and making sure their admin systems are up to scratch. A Department for Work and Pensions spokesman said: "We have said we expect around a third of people to opt out of automatic enrolment. Our ongoing advertising campaign is achieving high levels of awareness among employers and individuals of the need to put something aside so they can afford a decent quality of life in retirement.