Bosses' worst excuses for failing to pay minimum wage

Open-access content Friday 13th January 2017 — updated 4.00pm, Tuesday 26th May 2020

13 January 2017 | Deborah Shrewsbury

HM Revenue & Customs has revealed a list of ten of the worst excuses offered by employers caught out for underpaying staff.

The list highlights the government's new £1.7million awareness campaign to encourage workers to check they are receiving at least the statutory minimum ahead of the national minimum and national living wages rises on 1 April.

Excuses given include:

 The employee wasn't a good worker so I didn't think they deserved to be paid the National Minimum Wage.
 It's part of UK culture not to pay young workers for the first three months as they have to prove their 'worth' first.
 I thought it was OK to pay foreign workers below the National Minimum Wage as they aren't British and therefore don't have the right to be paid it.
 She doesn't deserve the National Minimum Wage because she only makes the teas and sweeps the floors.
 I've got an agreement with my workers that I won't pay them the National Minimum Wage; they understand and they even signed a contract to this effect.
 My accountant and I speak a different language - he doesn't understand me and that's why he doesn't pay my workers the correct wages.
 My workers like to think of themselves as being self-employed and the National Minimum Wage doesn't apply to people who work for themselves.
 My workers are often just on standby when there are no customers in the shop; I only pay them for when they're actually serving someone.
 My employee is still learning so they aren't entitled to the National Minimum Wage.
 The National Minimum Wage doesn't apply to my business.