‘National Minimum Wage does not apply to my business’

‘National Minimum Wage does not apply to my business’
Employers must pay their staff at least the National Minimum Wage (NMW). But it seems that a few are not getting the message, believing somehow that the law does not apply to them.
With that in mind HMRC has published a list of some of the most bizarre excuses used for not paying the legal NMW.
Some of the most ridiculous excuses for flouting the law included:

1. “She does not deserve the National Minimum Wage because she only makes the teas and sweeps the floors.”
2. “The employee was not a good worker, so I did not think they deserved to be paid the National Minimum Wage.”
3. “My accountant and I speak a different language – he does not understand me, and that is why he does not pay my workers the correct wages.”
4. “My employee is still learning so they are not entitled to the National Minimum Wage.”
5. “It is part of UK culture not to pay young workers for the first three months as they have to prove their ‘worth’ first.”
6. “The National Minimum Wage does not apply to my business.”
7. “I have got an agreement with my workers that I will not pay them the National Minimum Wage; they understand, and they even signed a contract to this effect.”
8. “I thought it was okay to pay young workers below the National Minimum Wage as they are not British and therefore do not have the right to be paid it.”
9. “My workers like to think of themselves as being self-employed and the National Minimum Wage does not 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 are actually serving someone.”

Last year (2020 to 2021) HMRC helped more than 155,000 workers across the UK recover more than £16 million in pay which was due to them, and also issued more than £14 million in penalties.
Steve Timewell, Director, Individuals and Small Business Compliance, HMRC, said: “Being underpaid is no joke for workers, so we always apply the law and take action. Workers cannot be asked or told to sign away their rights.
“We are making sure that workers are being paid what they are entitled to and, as the economy reopens, reminding employers of the rules and the help that is available to them.”
He added: “HMRC reviews every complaint made about the minimum wage, so if you think you are being short-changed, or are a business that is unsure of the rules or needs help to get things right, get in touch and we will help you. But any employer deliberately or unapologetically underpaying their staff will face hefty fines and other enforcement action.”