A broad sweep of employers, including B&Q, Elysium Healthcare, St George’s Hospital Group, Forest Holidays, Lanes Group, UK Care Team and others, were named for underpaying staff, with detailed tallies of total underpayments and numbers of workers affected.

B&Q acknowledged the shortfalls as unintentional, tied to geographical allowance calculations, and said affected staff were fully paid in July 2025, in addition to their minimum wage.

The government reiterates there is no excuse for underpayment and pledges continued enforcement to protect workers’ rights and uphold minimum wage standards.

Trade unions, led by TUC general secretary Paul Nowak, back naming and shaming as a deterrent, emphasizing the impact on workers, families, and local economies and highlighting the Fair Work Agency as a key enforcement tool.

The framework is set by a 2026 April minimum wage increase, with over-21s at 12.71 per hour, 18–20s at 10.85, and reduced rates for under-18s and apprentices, framing underpayments as failures to meet new wage standards.

The up-to-date rates reflect the national living wage changes, with official explanations that some underpayments stem from miscalculations of allowances or payroll rules.

HMRC investigations found the hotel sector collectively underpaid workers, with specific cases like a total underpayment of £1,816.70 to 13 staff over three years, illustrating broader enforcement scope.

Cantrell’s firm defended the underpayment as non-deliberate, cooperating with investigators and signaling lessons learned.

The government has named hundreds of employers across regions, reporting roughly £4 million repaid to more than 27,000 workers and about £7 million in penalties as part of ongoing enforcement actions.

Some establishments, like St George’s hospitals, attribute issues to salary sacrifice arrangements and have since corrected processes to ensure compliance with minimum wage rules.

Across Essex, apprentices were underpaid in certain cases, with documented recoveries contributing to the nationwide enforcement total.

Business and appetite for reform were reinforced by statements from ministers urging employers to ensure payroll compliance and offering Acas guidance and support to achieve proper pay.