Cleanzine: your weekly cleaning and hygiene industry newsletter 18th April 2024 Issue no. 1110
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And what excuse do you have for not paying workers the minimum wage?
The 10 most bizarre excuses used by unscrupulous bosses found to have underpaid workers the UK National Minimum Wage were revealed yesterday by the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy. The announcement is part of a £1.7 million UK Government awareness campaign designed to encourage workers to check their pay to ensure they are receiving at least the statutory minimum, ahead of the National Minimum and National Living Wages rising on 1st April.
"There is no excuse for not paying staff properly," said Business Minister Margot James, announcing the list of excuses, investigators from HMRC have been given, by employers caught out for underpaying staff:
* The employee wasn't a good worker so I didn't think they deserved to be paid the National Minimum Wage
* It's part of UK culture not to pay young workers for the first three months as they have to prove their 'worth' first
* I thought it was OK to pay foreign workers below the National Minimum Wage as they aren't British and therefore don't have the right to be paid it
* She doesn't deserve the National Minimum Wage because she only makes the teas and sweeps the floors
* I've got an agreement with my workers that I won't pay them the National Minimum Wage; they understand and they even signed a contract to this effect
* My accountant and I speak a different language - he doesn't understand me and that's why he doesn't pay my workers the correct wages
* My workers like to think of themselves as being self-employed and the National Minimum Wage doesn't apply to people who work for themselves
* My workers are often just on standby when there are no customers in the shop; I only pay them for when they're actually serving someone
* My employee is still learning so they aren't entitled to the National Minimum Wage
* The National Minimum Wage doesn't apply to my business
By law, all workers must be paid at least £7.20 an hour if they are aged 25 years and over, or the National Minimum Wage rate relevant to their age if they are younger.
"This campaign will raise awareness among the lowest paid in society about what they must legally receive and I would encourage anyone who thinks they may be paid less to contact Acas as soon as possible," said the Minister.
"Every call is followed up by HMRC and we are determined to make sure everybody in work receives a fair wage.
"Workers are encouraged to regularly check their pay to ensure they are receiving at least the minimum or living wage, depending on their age."
19th January 2017