B&Q and Five Guys among firms that paid staff below minimum wage
More than 600 companies underpaid staff, with £4m returned to workers, according to the government.
DIY giant B&Q and fast-food chain Five Guys are among hundreds of UK businesses publicly identified by the government for failing to pay their employees the legally mandated minimum wage.
According to the Department for Business and Trade, over 600 employers were directed to reimburse affected staff, resulting in £4 million being returned to workers. Additionally, these companies face penalties totaling £7 million.
B&Q attributed its underpayments to unintentional errors in calculating geographical allowances, while Five Guys cited "technical differences in how payroll regulations were applied."
The government's list encompasses 658 businesses, including retailers, restaurants, nurseries, social care providers, and several NHS trusts. The specific timeframe over which these underpayments occurred was not disclosed.
B&Q reportedly underpaid 4,530 workers by more than £456,000. The company stated, "The shortfalls in payments were unintentional. They relate to calculations involving geographical allowances which are paid in addition to minimum hourly rates. All affected colleagues were quickly paid in full in July 2025."
Five Guys, identified as owing over £54,000 to 3,699 staff, explained that "technical differences in how payroll regulations were applied" led to the discrepancies, which were uncovered during an HMRC review. The company added, "We worked closely and transparently with HMRC throughout the process and have made all required payments to affected current and former employees."
The list also revealed that St George's, Epsom and St Helier Hospital Group failed to pay over £123,000 to 75 workers, and St George's University Hospitals in Wandsworth, London, underpaid 55 workers. A spokesperson for both trusts asserted that "no colleagues were underpaid," clarifying that the issue stemmed from a "technical compliance issue where part of their salary for a non tax-deductable 'salary sacrifice' (for example, towards childcare) was not counted towards the national minimum wage, even though their gross salary was above the national minimum wage."
Norfolk Community Health and Care NHS Trust acknowledged that apprentices were inadvertently underpaid between 2019 and 2023. While their contracted hours were paid correctly, time spent in meetings, handovers, and changing into uniforms was not accounted for. The trust has since revised its policies and practices. The other named trust has been contacted for comment.
The list also featured numerous nursing homes and childcare providers.
The current minimum wage rates are £12.71 for staff aged 21 and over, £10.85 for those aged 18 to 20, and £8 for under 18s and apprentices.
Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds emphasized the government's commitment to eradicating the practice of "short-changing your staff." He stated, "The best businesses know that looking after your workers isn't just the right thing to do, it's the smart thing to do."
Kate Dearden, minister for the future of work, declared, "Underpaying your staff is illegal, and we will not let workers foot the bill for their boss failing to follow the rules." She advised, "Every employer should check their payroll now and reach out to Acas if they need further support."
The top 10 employers on the government's list, ranked by the amount of unpaid wages, are:
1. **B&Q Ltd:** Failed to pay £456,934.72 to 4,530 workers.
2. **Elysium Healthcare Holdings 3 Ltd, Borehamwood:** Failed to pay £330,048.81 to 1,095 workers.
3. **St George's, Epsom and St Helier Hospital Group:** Failed to pay £123,331.97 to 75 workers.
4. **Support Staff Services Limited, Slough:** Failed to pay £119,715.13 to 323 workers.
5. **Forest Holidays Ltd, Moira:** Failed to pay £100,308.68 to 598 workers.
6. **St George's University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, London (Wandsworth):** Failed to pay £77,498.91 to 55 workers.
7. **Lanes Group Limited, Leeds:** Failed to pay £67,893.34 to 297 workers.
8. **UK Care Team Ltd, Leicester:** Failed to pay £67,082.76 to 99 workers.
9. **Five Guys JV Limited, London (Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea):** Failed to pay £54,642.47 to 3,699 workers.
10. **Merlin Cinemas Limited, Redruth:** Failed to pay £50,198.75 to 181 workers.
This list represents the first "naming round" since the establishment of the Fair Work Agency in April under the Employment Rights Act. Beyond enforcing the minimum wage, the agency will soon address issues of denied holiday and sick pay.
Matthew Taylor, chair of the agency's advisory board, emphasized that publicly naming employers who underpay staff serves as a crucial reminder that "paying the minimum wage is not optional — it is the law." He added, "Most employers want to do the right thing, and we will support them to comply, but those who fall short should expect robust enforcement to protect workers and maintain a fair playing field for responsible businesses."