Pay & Pension

How often will I be paid?

You’ll be paid every four weeks on a Thursday. Your pay will reflect your basic pay and any other fixed payments for the four weeks up to and including the Saturday before payday. Variable payments (e.g. additional hours, overtime, stand-by and callouts, sick pay adjustments) are paid one week further in arrears. A 4-weekly pay cycle means you will normally be paid 13 times in a tax year.

How do I let you know my bank details?

As part of the onboarding information sent to you when you join our co-op, you’ll be asked to provide us with your bank account details. Please let us know these details promptly and ensure they’re accurate. If you wish to have your pay made into a bank account which isn’t registered in your name, we’ll ask you and the named account holder/s to sign a third-party bank mandate form.

How do I access my payslips and other pay documents?

You can view your payslip on or just before payday via Zellis Employee Self Service (Your Pay Documents).  Previous payslips are stored here too. After each tax year, a certificate of earnings and tax paid (P60) along with a Benefit in Kind statement (where applicable) will be issued to you via Zellis Employee Self Service, as above.

If you have any queries about your pay, you should discuss these with your line manager in the first instance or you can raise a pay query via Zellis Employee Self Service (Your Pay Documents > Pay Query).

What should I do if my bank details or other personal details change?

If you change your name, address or bank account details, it's your responsibility to update these on Zellis Employee Self Service (Your Changes) without delay. You’ll need to let HMRC know directly about any name or address change and ensure that changes are also notified to any other organisations you deal with directly (e.g. Co-operative Flexible Benefits, Royal London).

We believe that saving for your retirement is important so, when you contribute 5% of your basic pay into your pension, we’ll contribute 5% too. Our Group Stakeholder Pension Plan (‘’the Plan”) is operated by Royal London.

How do I join?

In accordance with UK pension regulations, we operate automatic enrolment into the Plan (subject to eligibility criteria). This was introduced by the Government to encourage people to save for their retirement. If you are due to be automatically enrolled (after a 3-month waiting period), we will write to you to let you know. If you want to join the Plan earlier, or if you want to join but don’t meet the criteria for automatic enrolment, you can request this via Zellis Employee Self Service (Your Benefits > Pension Plan) or via the Royal London website (you’ll be advised how to do this in the information you receive about automatic enrolment).

How much do I have to pay into my pension?

The minimum contribution you can make into the Plan is 5% of your basic pay. You can choose to contribute more by logging in to Zellis Employee Self Service (Your Benefits > Pension Plan).

Did you know you can also make additional, single payments into your pension? You can find out more via the Royal London website.

How are contributions to my pension administered?

Your contributions are administered via the 4-weekly payroll, either by ‘Smartpay’ or via net deductions. Both methods of pension contributions receive income tax relief.  Smartpay is a salary-sacrifice arrangement, where you exchange some of your gross basic salary for a pension contribution. This is more tax efficient as you won’t pay National Insurance on the sacrificed amount. Due to HMRC rules, you cannot participate in Smartpay if the deductions take your basic salary below a certain threshold.  If this is the case, then deductions will be made based on your net pay instead, but you will still qualify for income tax relief on the pension contribution. Whether your contributions are administered via Smartpay or net deductions, we will take them from your 4-weekly pay and pay them, along with our (employer’s) 5% contribution, straight into your pension pot with Royal London.

Who is responsible for my pension?

Your pension belongs to you. When you join, you will be sent information relating to the Plan and details of how to access your account information (including online via the Royal London website or app). Royal London will also send your annual statements directly to you.

Where can I find out more information?

You can view more information on the Royal London Website. You can also contact our in-house team via PensionsTeam@eastofengland.coop.

How do I opt out of the pension scheme?

If you're automatically enrolled, you will be advised of the period within which you have to opt-out. This must be requested via Royal London. Otherwise, you can leave the Plan at a later date via Zellis Employee Self Service (Your Benefits > Pension Plan). Please note that unless you’re in the opt-out period, your contributions will not be refunded and will instead remain in your pension pot. In this case, you’ll need to contact Royal London regarding options for your pension moving forward.

Where can I get pensions advice?

Please remember that Royal London and our in-house team can provide you with factual information regarding your pension benefits and options, but they’re unable to provide advice. We’d encourage our colleagues to seek independent financial advice regarding their options (you can find the details of independent advisers in your local area at www.unbiased.co.uk). The Pensions Advisory Service, part of the Money and Pensions Service, can also provide independent and free advice on workplace, personal and stakeholder schemes as well as the State Pension. Further information can be found at The Pensions Advisory Service.

What should I do if I have a query about my tax (e.g. my tax code)?

Any queries regarding personal income tax should be raised with the tax office quoting the PAYE reference number 083/CO4). Have your National Insurance number to hand when contacting them.

• Telephone number: 0300 200 3300
• Income Tax: general enquiries - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

If you have any changes to your personal circumstances (such as provision of benefits) that may affect your tax position, it's your responsibility to notify HMRC.

What contact details should I provide for our co-op?

Please provide the following contact details for the People Team if requested by financial institutions, HMRC or other Government departments, prospective employers for references, etc.:

• hrservices@eastofengland.coop
• 01473 786011
• People Team, East of England Co-operative Society, Wherstead Park, The Street, Wherstead, Suffolk, IP9 2BJ