The UK government has released a list of 658 businesses that failed to pay employees the legally required minimum wage. The companies collectively owed affected workers approximately £4m in back payments, and have been assessed a combined £7m in penalties by authorities.
The named businesses span multiple sectors, including retail chains, fast food restaurants, nursing homes, childcare providers, and several NHS trusts. The underpayments covered varying time periods depending on the employer but collectively span from 2013 to 2025. Major retailers and chains featured prominently on the list, with B&Q identified as owing more than £456,000 to approximately 4,530 workers. B&Q attributed the shortfalls to unintentional calculation errors involving geographical allowances and stated that all affected employees received full payment in July 2025. Five Guys, which owed over £54,000 to roughly 3,699 staff members, cited technical differences in payroll regulation application and stated it worked transparently with tax authorities throughout the process.
Several NHS trusts appeared on the list, including cases where underpayments resulted from salary sacrifice schemes or technical issues with allowance calculations. St George’s, Epsom and St Helier Hospital Group owed over £123,000 to 75 workers, while St George’s University Hospitals failed to pay £77,498.91 to 55 workers. One NHS trust disputed whether any staff were actually underpaid, while another acknowledged apprentices were inadvertently underpaid when certain work-related activities were not factored into hourly calculations.
The list marks the first enforcement announcement from the Fair Work Agency, established in April under the Employment Rights Act. Government officials emphasized that minimum wage compliance is mandatory and called on all employers to review their payroll procedures. The agency, which also addresses holiday and sick pay violations, framed the naming and shaming approach as necessary enforcement to protect workers and maintain fair competition among responsible businesses.
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