The Selected Elements of Knowledge Management in the Operation of Employee Capital Plans

The reform of the Polish pension system that began in 1999 has continued since then. Another new element of this system is Employee Capital Plans (PPK). Future pensions to be paid under the new Polish system will be very low because the benefit calculation formula has changed, and will not guarantee minimum livelihood for many of post-retirement benefit recipients. Unfortunately, legislative measures taken to bring more financial instruments in the pension system with the aim in mind to increase future pensions are not applauded by potential beneficiaries. The reason for this is either ignorance of the pension system, disregard of the future or of the solutions being implemented.The research problem presented in this article is the level of ignorance of participants and program creators regarding the functioning of PPK and potential educational activities undertaken by various entities.This article presents selected elements of a survey conducted with a group of 134 employers and 821 employees, covering various aspects of the PPK in Poland. Particular attention was given in the article to the sections focusing on knowledge management among PPK creators (employers) and scheme participants (employees), especially sources of knowledge and potential educational actions.Two separate electronic survey questionnaires were used to conduct the study: one intended for employees, consisting of 20 substantive questions and specifications, and the other addressed to employers, containing 24 questions and specifications.The analysis shows that the primary sources of knowledge about the Employee Capital Plans, both for employers and scheme participants, did not include substantive materials such as legislation, specialist trainings or getting in touch with institutions managing PPK, but sources including general newspapers and magazines, opinions of other people or news from non-professional sources. On the other hand, further educational activities that were expected by participants and employers were directed to the state (employers) and non-employer-administered multimedia portals (participants).