Minimum Wage Breaches: Why Even Well-Run Businesses Are Getting Caught Out

Just imagine... being publicly named and shamed by HMRC — not for deliberate wrongdoing, but because of a technical payroll oversight.

It’s more common than you think. And it’s affecting businesses of all shapes and sizes, including some of the UK’s best-known brands and many local businesses here in the North West.

The Latest List — and What It Tells Us

Earlier this year, the government published its latest name and shame list of 518 UK employers who failed to pay staff the National Minimum Wage. The underpayments affected 60,000 workers and totalled over £7.4 million.

Among those listed were high-street names like British Airways and Lidl. But this isn’t just a big business problem. SMEs, hospitality firms, retailers, and logistics operators were all there too — some inadvertently falling foul of rules that have quietly become more complex over time.

Where Businesses Are Going Wrong

In many cases, minimum wage breaches aren’t the result of underhand practice — they’re caused by misunderstandings, missed updates, or flawed systems. The most common mistakes include:

• Deducting costs for uniforms, training or tools from employee wages
• Failing to update pay in line with rising minimum wage thresholds
• Not paying for all hours worked, including trial shifts or prep time
• Rounding errors in recording working hours
• Unpaid travel time between client sites or jobs

Small errors can go unnoticed for months — but HMRC’s enforcement powers (and public lists) mean the reputational damage can be huge.

What You Can Do About It

At HURST, we believe staying compliant shouldn't be a burden. And while we don’t deliver payroll services directly, we work closely with a trusted partner — Advo — to help our clients stay on the right side of the rules.

Together, we can support you with:

• Payroll compliance reviews and health checks
• Minimum wage audits tailored to your workforce and sector
• Real-time updates to keep pace with legislation changes
• Advice on deductions, training time, and pay band transitions

If something’s unclear, we’ll make sure you’re talking to the right people — quickly.

Peace of Mind Starts Here

We understand how easy it is for a small slip to turn into a big issue. That’s why we’re proactive about helping businesses identify potential risks — and fix them before HMRC comes knocking.

If you’d like a confidential chat or a connection to the right support, speak to your usual HURST adviser or get in touch at imagine@hurst.co.uk.

Let’s make sure your business stays compliant, confident and focused on what matters most — growth.