Ten outrageous excuses for not paying the minimum wage
The government has revealed ten of the most outrageous excuses employers have used for failing to pay their workers the national minimum wage (NMW). What are they?

The ten worst excuses for flouting NMW laws that have been given by employers to HMRC enforcement officers are:
- “She does not deserve the NMW because she only makes the teas and sweeps the floors.”
- “The employee was not a good worker, so I did not think they deserved to be paid the NMW.”
- “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.”
- “My employee is still learning so they are not entitled to the NMW.”
- “It is part of UK culture not to pay young workers for the first three months as they have to prove their worth first.”
- “The NMW does not apply to my business.”
- “I have got an agreement with my workers that I will not pay them the NMW; they understand, and they even signed a contract to this effect.”
- “I thought it was okay to pay young workers below the NMW as they are not British and therefore do not have the right to be paid it.”
- “My workers like to think of themselves as being self-employed and the NMW 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.”
HMRC has emphasised that workers cannot be asked or told to sign away their NMW rights, and it has referred employers to its guidance for further information on calculating the NMW.
Related Topics
-
Are you ready for the PAYE end of year?
The 2024/25 tax year ends in just a few weeks. As an employer this means extra payroll duties. Apart from submitting the usual reports, what else ought you be considering?
-
Man Utd is cutting staff perks. Should, and can, you?
Manchester United FC is to end free hot meals for its staff as part of a cost-cutting exercise. If you want to withdraw staff perks such as free food, tea and coffee to save on business costs, can you do so?
-
HMRC’s official rate of interest set to increase
HMRC’s official rate of interest will increase from 6 April 2025. What does it apply to, what is the new rate and what else is changing?