Government Names 658 Employers Over Minimum Wage Failures
Published on 09/03/2026 at 09:27 | Editorial boerse-global.de
The UK government has identified 658 employers that failed to pay the legal minimum wage, forcing repayments of nearly £4 million to 27,000 workers. Beyond the backdated pay, the companies face combined penalties of £7 million for breaching statutory pay requirements — a clear warning to businesses that wage compliance is under active scrutiny.
Retail Giants Among Those Named
The list, published this week, features several high-profile national brands. Home improvement retailer B&Q was among the most prominent, having underpaid 4,530 workers a total of £456,934. Restaurant chain Five Guys was also cited for underpaying 3,699 employees by £54,642.
Hospitality group Whitbread appeared for underpaying 342 workers by £4,200, while various McDonald's franchises owed £29,000 to 797 staff members. Not all cases involved large sums — Tesco was named for failing to pay a single worker approximately £228.
Healthcare Providers Hit With Penalties
The enforcement action also exposed significant underpayments in healthcare and services. Elysium Healthcare underpaid 1,095 workers by £330,048, while St George's Epsom failed to pay £123,331 to 75 staff members. St George's University Hospitals was named for underpaying 55 workers by £77,498.
Support Staff Services owed £119,715 to 323 workers, and the Lanes Group underpaid 297 employees by nearly £68,000. Forest Holidays was noted for failing to pay £100,308 to 598 staff. Major outsourcing and security firms, including Serco and G4S, also featured on the official list.
Minimum Wage Rules and Enforcement
The crackdown was coordinated by the Fair Work Agency as part of a broader push to ensure businesses meet national pay standards. Under current UK law, the national minimum wage stands at £12.71 per hour for workers aged 21 and over. Those aged 18 to 20 must receive at least £10.85 per hour, while the rate for under-18s and apprentices is set at £8.
The government said the naming-and-shaming process reminds employers of all sizes that staff must be compensated correctly. The £7 million in penalties will be returned to the government, while the £4 million in arrears must be paid directly to affected employees.
