The UK government has publicly identified 658 employers that failed to pay workers the statutory minimum wage, resulting in £4m being returned to affected staff and £7m in penalties issued to the businesses. The list encompasses a diverse range of organizations including retailers, food chains, healthcare providers, care facilities, and childcare services.
B&Q was the largest offender on the list, having underpaid 4,530 workers a total of over £456,000. The company attributed the shortfalls to unintentional calculation errors related to geographical allowances and stated that all affected employees were fully compensated in July 2025. Five Guys was named for failing to pay over £54,000 to 3,699 staff members, which the fast food chain said resulted from technical differences in how payroll regulations were applied. The company indicated it worked with the revenue authority to resolve the matter.
Several NHS trusts appeared on the list, including St George’s, Epsom and St Helier Hospital Group and St George’s University Hospitals in London. Hospital representatives disputed characterizations of underpayment, explaining that issues related to technical compliance regarding salary sacrifice arrangements for benefits such as childcare. Norfolk Community Health and Care NHS Trust acknowledged that apprentices were inadvertently underpaid between 2019 and 2023, noting that paid time for meetings and uniform changes had not been included in wage calculations, though the trust has since modified its policies.
Government officials emphasized that minimum wage compliance is mandatory, not optional. Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds stated that responsible employers understand that fair worker treatment is both ethically correct and economically sound. The enforcement effort marks the first public naming round conducted by the Fair Work Agency, established in April to enforce employment rights protections. Officials urged all employers to review their payroll practices and seek guidance from relevant support services to ensure compliance with wage regulations.
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