The UK government has identified 658 employers for failing to pay the National Minimum Wage, resulting in the repayment of around £4 million to more than 27,000 workers following enforcement actions. These employers were also subject to penalties totaling £7 million. Officials have indicated that naming lists will be published more frequently to ensure quicker accountability and encourage compliance.

Among the businesses named were well-known companies including B&Q, Five Guys, Serco, and Whitbread. B&Q appeared at the top of the list, having underpaid approximately 4,530 workers a total of £456,934. A company spokesperson acknowledged the shortfalls but described them as “unintentional,” attributing the errors to the way geographical allowances—paid in addition to minimum hourly rates—were calculated. The company stated all affected employees were reimbursed by July 2025.

Five Guys was reported to have underpaid nearly 3,700 employees by approximately £54,642. The burger chain attributed the shortfall to “technical differences” in payroll regulation application following a review by HM Revenue & Customs, which led to miscalculations of the national minimum wage. The company confirmed full repayment had been made to all affected current and former staff.

Serco, which provides a range of public services including those to asylum hotels, defence, healthcare, education, offices, and prisons, also appeared on the list. It was found to have underpaid 374 employees by £36,303, an issue linked to a technical error involving salary-sacrifice schemes on one specific contract over two years ago. Serco said the matter was swiftly corrected and all employees were fully reimbursed.

Whitbread, the owner of Premier Inn, was included for failing to make correct minimum wage payments to 342 employees, totalling £4,193. The company attributed this to an administrative error that has since been rectified.

The current minimum wage, or national living wage for those aged 21 and over, was established over 20 years ago and has risen to £12.71 per hour as of April 2026. Government officials emphasized the importance of compliance with wage laws, with Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds stating that “short-changing your staff isn’t a shortcut to success” and underscoring the government’s commitment to working with employers to ensure adherence to regulations. The minister for the future of work added that underpayment is illegal and that the government will hold employers accountable to prevent workers from bearing the cost of such violations.