Employers need to review their workforces’ pay for compliance with National Minimum Wage rules, as the government names and shames those who have underpaid workers.
The rules are “uncompromising”, and even technical errors can result in penalties and reputational damage years later, warns Julie Moore, a partner and National Minimum Wage (NMW) expert at professional services group S&W.
“Most underpayments we see are mistakes rather than deliberate, but that doesn’t help employers,” she said. “They face making potentially large back-payments for pay, national insurance, and pension contributions, as well as significant penalties.
“Employers who want to do the right thing can easily make technical errors. Even if they remedy it and repay workers, they can then find themselves named and shamed on a list years later. It may not seem fair, but it’s a reality employers have to deal with.”
The release of the list follows a recent campaign by the Department of Business and Trade to encourage workers to complain if they’ve not been paid correctly.
The department sent half a million beer mats to pubs nationally, raising awareness of the recent National Minimum Wage rise. Distributed in areas that include those with high underpayment complaints, the mats prompt drinkers to check they’re paid correctly.
• Adnams is to sell off assets to help reduce what it calls “unsustainable” debt.
“The asset disposal programme will continue until such time as the company’s earnings are sufficient to support its debt,” said interim chairman Simon Townsend.
He was reporting the company’s results for the year to 31st December, 2024. Turnover was up from up from £66,344,000 to £68,073,000, with pre-tax losses down from £4,064,000 to £2,776,000. Total debt is currently around £15m.
• A strong trading performance in the 28 weeks to 12th April has seen like-for-like sales growth of 4.3% at Mitchells & Butlers. There was operating profit of £181m, up 10.4% from the prior half-year.
“The strength of our first-half performance is driven by continued focus on maximising the guest appeal of our diverse portfolio of brands to drive sales, supported by efficiency initiatives delivered through our Ignite programme of work,” said chief executive Phil Urban. “We are delighted with the like-for-like sales, a performance which continues to outperform against the market.
“As we enter the second half of the year, with increased employer national insurance contributions, we remain focused on the effective delivery of our Ignite programme of initiatives and our capital investment programme, driving further cost efficiencies and increased sales.
“Notwithstanding a likely increase in cost headwinds next year, we have confidence that relentless focus on delivery of our strategic priorities will generate further value from our well-invested and strategically-located estate portfolio, and compelling customer offers.”
• Windsor and Eton Brewery has acquired the lease of Woody’s pub, in Kingston-upon-Thames. The brewery already operates four bars in Windsor. Woody’s will re-open after refurbishment.
