Government names and shames employers that underpaid staff

More than 500 employers have been named and shamed by the government for failing to pay their employees the national minimum or living wage.

Almost 60,000 people will also be repaid more than £7.4m in unpaid wages.

In addition, their employers have also been hit with financial penalties of up to 200% of the money owed.

Although the government accepts that not all these underpayments were intention, it has stressed that employers must pay their staff correctly or face enforcement action.

The full list can be found here.

New minimum wage rates now in place

The announcement comes after new national living wage and national minimum wage rates were introduced in April.

The national living wage for those aged 21 and over is now £12.21 an hour - up from £11.44 an hour.

In addition, the national minimum wage for 18 to 20-year-olds has gone up from £8.60 an hour to £10 an hour.

Meanwhile, the rates for 16 and 17-year-olds and apprentices have increased from £6.40 an hour to £7.55 an hour.

Employers have no excuses, says minister

Justin Madders, minister for employment rights, said the government is committed to making sure people “receive a fair day’s pay for a fair day’s work”.

“There is no excuse for employers to undercut their workers,” he commented.

“We will continue to name companies who break the law and don’t pay their employees what they are owed.”

Baroness Philippa Stroud, chair of the Low Pay Commission, added that naming and shaming these businesses ensures that “all workers receive their full wages”.

“We welcome today’s publication,” she commented.

“Underpayment leaves workers out of pocket and disadvantages the majority of employers who do abide by the rules.”

Make sure you’re being properly paid

Use the government’s minimum wage calculator to find out if you're being paid the correct national minimum wage or national living wage. 

And if you think you’ve been underpaid, check out our handy guide outlining what you can do.

It’s also well worth making sure you’re on top of how much money is coming in and going out by using our budget planner.