Over half of voluntary sector workers take part in their workplace pension scheme, according to new research on pensions from the Chartered Institute of Personal Development (CIPD).

YouGov, on behalf of CIPD, surveyed some 285,000 people from the public, private and voluntary sector about their pensions.

It found that 61 per cent of voluntary sector employees were members of a workplace pension scheme, compared with 85 per cent in the public sector and 35 per cent in the private sector.

However, some 27 per cent of voluntary sector workers were unaware of how much their company contributed to their pension.

Over half (59 per cent) of public sector workers were unaware, while only 18 per cent of private sector employees didn’t know.

The report said: “If employer contribution levels are poor, this level of employee ignorance may be a good thing for some organisations.

“However, if the levels of employer contributions are high, some employers may be spending huge sums on a benefit the value of which many employees do not value or appreciate.”

The top contribution to pensions from voluntary sector employers was 11 or more per cent, as a percentage of pay with 21 per cent of voluntary sector workers quizzed receiving this.

Though, almost the same amount (27 per cent) were unaware of how much their charity contributed.

The top contribution to pensions from voluntary sector employees was 5 or 6 per cent, as a percentage of pay.