The UK Department for Business and Trade has released a list of 658 employers found to have paid staff below the national minimum wage. The enforcement action resulted in £4 million in back pay being returned to workers, alongside £7 million in penalties issued to the companies involved.
The list, which covers incidents occurring between 2013 and 2025, includes a wide range of sectors such as retail, hospitality, social care, and several NHS trusts. Among the most prominent names identified were DIY retailer B&Q, which underpaid over 4,500 workers by more than £456,000, and fast-food chain Five Guys, which owed over £54,000 to nearly 3,700 employees.
Both companies attributed the discrepancies to administrative errors. B&Q stated that the issues stemmed from calculations involving geographical allowances, while Five Guys cited "technical differences in how payroll regulations were applied." Both firms confirmed that all affected staff have since been reimbursed.
The government's announcement marks the first naming round conducted since the establishment of the Fair Work Agency in April. Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds emphasized the government's commitment to ending the practice of "short-changing" staff, noting that compliance with wage laws is a fundamental responsibility for employers.
Several NHS trusts were also included on the list, with some citing salary sacrifice schemes or issues regarding the inclusion of time spent on uniform changes and handovers as reasons for the underpayments. While some trusts have updated their internal policies following HMRC reviews, others have disputed the findings.
Minister for the future of work, Kate Dearden, warned that underpaying staff is illegal and urged employers to review their payroll practices to ensure full compliance with current regulations.
Source: BBC News
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