From 2012, workplace pensions law is changing and every employer will have to act, according to the Pensions Regulator.

The Pensions Regulator has launched its online tools designed to help smaller businesses get to grips with their employer duties under the new laws.

These tools give a basic overview of the things employers need to know and what they need to do next. The topics covered are:

Find out your staging date: The date when the new law is 'switched on' for a business

Your employer duties: An overview of what an employer will have to do on their staging date for everyone who works for them

How to automatically enrol your staff: An explanation of the process that must be followed to automatically enrol staff

Your minimum employer contribution: Work out what the minimum employer contribution will be for each person who must be automatically enrolled.

Some basic information is needed to use the tools:

The employer's PAYE reference number and the number of people in the PAYE scheme

The ages and earnings of all staff.