B&Q and Five Guys are among over 600 UK businesses identified by the government for paying employees below the minimum wage. The Department for Business and Trade reported that these employers have been ordered to pay a total of £4 million in outstanding wages to affected workers, in addition to penalties totaling £7 million.
B&Q stated that the underpayments were unintentional and stemmed from calculations involving geographical allowances. The company reported that it underpaid 4,530 workers by more than £456,000 and that all affected employees were compensated in full by July 2025.
Five Guys acknowledged owing over £54,000 to 3,699 staff, attributing the underpayments to "technical differences in how payroll regulations were applied." The discrepancies were identified during a review by HMRC, the UK's revenue and tax authority. Five Guys confirmed that they worked closely with HMRC and have made all necessary payments to current and former employees.
The list of 658 businesses includes various sectors such as retail, hospitality, and healthcare. For instance, St George's, Epsom and St Helier Hospital Group failed to pay over £123,000 to 75 workers, while St George's University Hospitals in Wandsworth underpaid 55 workers. A spokesperson for the hospital trusts clarified that the issue was related to a technical compliance matter regarding non-tax-deductible salary sacrifices.
Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds emphasized the government's commitment to addressing the issue of underpayment, stating that responsible businesses understand the importance of treating their employees fairly. Minister for the Future of Work, Kate Dearden, reiterated that underpaying staff is illegal and urged employers to review their payroll practices.
The first ten employers on the government's list of those who failed to meet minimum wage requirements include: 1. B&Q Ltd - £456,934.72 owed to 4,530 workers. 2. Elysium Healthcare Holdings 3 Ltd - £330,048.81 owed to 1,095 workers. 3. St George's, Epsom and St Helier Hospital Group - £123,331.97 owed to 75 workers. 4. Support Staff Services Limited - £119,715.13 owed to 323 workers. 5. Forest Holidays Ltd - £100,308.68 owed to 598 workers. 6. St George's University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust - £77,498.91 owed to 55 workers. 7. Lanes Group Limited - £67,893.34 owed to 297 workers. 8. UK Care Team Ltd - £67,082.76 owed to 99 workers. 9. Five Guys JV Limited - £54,642.47 owed to 3,699 workers. 10. Merlin Cinemas Limited - £50,198.75 owed to 181 workers.
This announcement marks the first "naming round" since the establishment of the Fair Work Agency under the Employment Rights Act in April. The agency aims to enforce minimum wage laws and address issues related to holiday and sick pay. Matthew Taylor, chair of the agency's advisory board, stated that compliance with minimum wage laws is mandatory and that the agency will support employers in meeting their obligations while ensuring robust enforcement against those who do not.