B&Q, Five Guys Among 600 UK Firms Underpaying Staff, £4 Million Repaid
A recent government enforcement exercise has revealed that more than 600 UK companies failed to pay their staff the statutory minimum wage, resulting in £4 million being repaid to affected workers. Prominent names on the list include DIY chain B&Q and fast-food outlet Five Guys.
The Department for Business and Trade identified 619 employers who neglected their obligations, with the breaches occurring between 2018 and 2019. The recovered funds have since been distributed to over 40,000 employees.
Offences ranged from deducting money for uniforms to failing to pay staff for all hours worked. One particularly egregious case involved an employer owing in excess of £50,000 to a single worker. This highlights systemic issues within sections of the UK labour market, where the enforcement of basic worker protections appears to be a reactive measure rather than a preventative one.
B&Q acknowledged its error, stating it was a technical one relating to salary sacrifice for a cycle-to-work scheme and that all affected staff had been reimbursed. Five Guys also stated it had repaid all underpaid wages and reviewed its internal processes. However, the consistent appearance of major corporations in such lists raises questions about corporate compliance and the adequacy of regulatory oversight.
