Stop paying attention to your pension (and party) – some weird mixed messaging

Posted on September 9, 2022 by henry tapper

Public sector lockdown

Nest has  postponed its online event ‘Above and beyond: Could innovation in employer pension contributions approaches improve employee financial security in retirement?’

saying…

Due to the period of royal mourning following the death of Her Majesty The Queen, we will be postponing this event. The online event will now be held at the new date/time of 11am – 12pm, Monday 3 October 2022

We now have news that the plans to get people to pay attention to their pension have been postponed.

 

Following the very sad passing of Her Majesty The Queen, we have taken the decision to pause all campaign activity until the conclusion of the national period of mourning.

We have taken this decision in consultation with our sponsors and partners, including the DWP, Pensions Awareness Week and others, based on available guidance.

In line with this decision, the Pensions Geeks have also made the decision to postpone Pension Awareness Week activities and events next week. They plan to reschedule for 31 October – 4 November and will communicate arrangements for this in due course.

We will continue to work with the Pensions Awareness team and all our partners to ensure the success of the campaign season through the Autumn. Please do get in touch with the project team should you have any queries. We will update you on future plans as soon as we are able.

Our thoughts remain with the Royal Family and all those who knew and loved our Queen.

Just what people should be paying attention to over the next couple of weeks is unclear.

Private sector knees-up

However , the UK pension awards are going ahead on Tuesday.

Like the industry as a whole, the Professional Pensions team was hugely saddened to learn of the death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.

In line with Cabinet Office guidance, and after consultation with a number of the hosts for the evening, we are planning to go ahead with the UK Pensions Awards on Tuesday 13th September, but we are making some changes to reflect the circumstances. If advice changes, we will of course rethink our decision and be back in contact with you.

The awards event will include a one-minute silence in remembrance of Queen Elizabeth II and the National Anthem will be played. We will also be featuring a photo tribute to Her Majesty during the evening.

My point

As I go about my working day, I wonder. What would the Queen have wanted?

She did not go in for virtue signalling , nor did she do hype. I am sure she would have given an ironic smile at the inanity of the UK pensions awards as she would the woke nonsense of postponing events lest Government officials be accused of – “goodness knows what”.

This weekend people will have a good time on my boat Lady Lucy though my heart and maybe those of my passengers  may be heavy. I’ve written to them all and all are still coming.

The St Ledger is going ahead on Sunday (not Saturday) . The Queen loved horses and loved her horses being raced.

The most moving tribute to the Queen (by far) was Theresa May’s in the House of Commons. She moves the house to tears of laughter

I would cancel nothing , but would make sure that what I did was done in honour and respect of the Queen.

I am quite sure that when I go to those silly awards, I will toast the Queen and maybe shed a tear in gratitude.

I am saddened by Nest and the people behind the Pension Awareness campaign. Those events too could have gone ahead in honour and respect of the Queen.

 

About henry tapper

Founder of the Pension PlayPen,, partner of Stella, father of Olly . I am the Pension Plowman
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1 Response to Stop paying attention to your pension (and party) – some weird mixed messaging

  1. Charles Cavendish says:
    September 9, 2022 at 7.32

    Should the UK Pensions Awards be cancelled Henry? Have Professional Pensions made a big mistep here?

    If so, what about the cricket and rugby this weekend? Or the St Ledger on Sunday?

    To be honest, I don’t get the point you are trying to make here. Is one bad for cancelling, the other bad for carrying on?

    Reply

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