WEU – Minimum Wage – Your Rights

Dear Member

Do you think that you are being paid below the minimum wage? Do you think any of your family or friends are being paid below the minimum wage. The following article gives you some tips that will help you ensure that you are paid the correct amount. We urge you to encourage you family and friends to join a Trade Union as it is beneficial to have the correct support when highlighting payment issues to your employer.

48 companies including fashion label French Connection have been forced to pay back unpaid wages. Here’s how you can make sure you are getting a fair deal

The 48 employers named today (24 March 2015) are:

  • G1 Venues Ltd, trading as Arta Restaurant, Glasgow, neglected to pay £45,124.00 to 2895 workers
  • The Clothing Works Ltd (ceased trading), Corby, neglected to pay £17,007.08 to 38 workers
  • Freedom Sportsline Ltd, trading as Foot Locker, London, neglected to pay £16,718.25 to 601 workers
  • French Connection UK Ltd, London, neglected to pay £16,436.05 to 367 workers
  • Minara Enterprises Ltd, trading as Fakenham Tandoori, Fakenham, neglected to pay £11,696.47 to 1 worker
  • Sharon Makin, trading as Clever Clowns Day Nursery, Manchester, neglected to pay £10,572.08 to 6 workers
  • UK Gaming Computers Ltd, Colchester, neglected to pay £6,036.99 to 2 workers
  • Sarah Sloane and David Sloane, trading as Hawes Side Nursery, Blackpool, neglected to pay £2,825.58 to 3 workers
  • Weston Hire Services Ltd, Weston-super-Mare, neglected to pay £2,819.79 to 1 worker
  • Miss C Glendon & Miss S Glendon, trading as Ciara’s Tots Day Nursery, Manchester, neglected to pay £2,549.23 to 1 worker
  • Florence Opportunities Ltd, trading as Morgan Edward Hair & Beauty, Carmarthen, neglected to pay £2,201.99 to 1 worker
  • Champneys Springs Ltd, Swadlincote, neglected to pay £1,950 to 5 workers
  • H M Bodyshop Ltd, Colindale, London, neglected to pay £1944.83 to 1 worker
  • David Hayton Ltd, Penrith, neglected to pay £1,865.48 to 1 worker
  • Caledonian Leisure Sales Ltd, trading as Hurleys Operations, Birmingham, neglected to pay £1,628.63 to 1 worker
  • The Bell at Skenfrith Ltd, Skenfrith, neglected to pay £1,619.36 to 1 worker
  • Miss Kerris Dunne, Mr Frederick Dunne, and Mrs Alison Ashforth, trading as Aerobrights, Stafford, neglected to pay £1,529.82 to 6 workers
  • Mortgages First Ltd, Colchester, neglected to pay £1,475.63 to 3 workers
  • Fullworks (Ayrshire) Ltd, trading as The Full Works, Irvine, neglected to pay £1,362.76 to 2 workers
  • Crazy Divas Ltd, trading as Divas, Colchester, neglected to pay £1,316.74 to 4 workers
  • Glenview Development Partners Ltd, Tullibody, neglected to pay £1,150.42 to 1 worker
  • Toni & Guy (Wilmslow) Ltd, Wilmslow, neglected to pay £1,031.12 to 1 worker
  • Vertu Motors Plc, trading as Bristol Street Motors, Gateshead, neglected to pay £1,001.42 to 1 worker
  • PNP Media Ltd, trading as EBS Marketing, Manchester, neglected to pay £981.06 to 2 workers
  • Mr Trevor Trutwein, trading as Ambitions 2, Gillingham, neglected to pay £903.32 to 1 worker
  • Mr Anthony Miller, trading as Sportline Car Sales, Coalville, neglected to pay £779.70 to 2 workers
  • The Conde Nast Publications, London, neglected to pay £745.48 to 1 worker
  • Mr Yong Zhang, trading as Dragon Cottage Chinese Takeaway, Loughborough, neglected to pay £711.80 to 1 worker
  • 99p Stores Ltd, Northampton, neglected to pay £633.39 to 11 workers
  • Mr M & Mrs M Hargreaves, trading as Little Windrush, Solihull, neglected to pay £631.51 to 3 workers
  • Azad & Sons Ltd, trading as Pizza Hut, Norwich, neglected to pay £622.58 to 23 workers
  • The Bull’s Head (Inkberrow) Ltd, trading as The Bull’s Head Inn, Worcester, neglected to pay £580.95 to 3 workers
  • Glyn Harding, trading as GCH Transport, Frome, neglected to pay £485.87 to 1 worker
  • Mrs Yoko Banks, trading as Ashley House Hotel, Harrogate, neglected to pay £405.07 to 1 worker
  • Mr Daniel Smith, trading as Smith’s Hair, Braintree, neglected to pay £385.86 to 1 worker
  • Pharmacy 1st Ltd, Gillingham, neglected to pay £363.55 to 1 worker
  • Ms Sonia Duncton, trading as The Three Compasses Public House, Alford, neglected to pay £344.72 to 3 workers
  • Mrs Geraldine Kelly, trading as New Hope Creche, Enniskillen, neglected to pay £344.30 to 11 workers
  • Bounty (UK) Ltd, Welwyn Garden City, neglected to pay £284.26 to 1 worker
  • Golden Phoenix Inns Ltd, trading as The Crown Inn, Bristol, neglected to pay £284.01 to 1 worker
  • The Widd Group Ltd, trading as Widd Signs, Leeds, neglected to pay £253.50 to 1 worker
  • Mr Garry Evis, trading as Woodside MOT and Service Centre, Middlesbrough, neglected to pay £232.55 to 1 worker
  • Mr Keith J Pygall, trading Pygall Coaches, Peterlee, neglected to pay £198.34 to 1 worker
  • Ranc Care Homes Ltd, trading as Maidstone Care Centre, Ilford, neglected to pay £178.76 to 1 worker
  • Call & Deliver Ltd, trading as Pizza Hut, Heckmondwike, neglected to pay £163.45 to 9 workers
  • Mr Fernando Rocha, trading as A Tasca, Ely, neglected to pay £152.28 to 1 worker
  • Winners 2000 Fitness Ltd, Torquay, neglected to pay £130.78 to 1 worker
  • Central Electrical Ltd, Chesterfield, neglected to pay £130.28 to 1 worker

The 48 cases named today were thoroughly investigated by HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC).

The minimum wage- not just a fashion statement

Fashion chain French Connection has been caught paying hundreds of workers less than the minimum wage.

Investigations found 367 employees were paid less than the legal amount, currently £6.50 an hour for staff aged 21 and over and £5.13 for 18 to 20-year-olds.

But the firm avoided being prosecuted by agreeing to repay staff the £16,400 owed, plus an £11,000 fine.

Money owed to French Connection staff

£16,400

French Connection is among 48 companies named and shamed by the Government today for failing to 
pay the minimum wage.

Among others slammed 
is the company behind trainer chain Foot Locker, which didn’t pay the legal minimum amount to 
601 workers.

Freedom Sportsline Ltd has agreed to repay £16,700 to short-changed staff, and an £10,500 fine.

The breaches came to light thanks to whistleblowers triggering investigations by HM Revenue and Customs.

Business Minister Jo Swinson said: “There’s no excuse for companies that don’t pay staff the wages they’re entitled to – whether by wilfully breaking the law, or making irresponsible mistakes.”

French Connection said the breach related to “payroll and timekeeping administration”.

It said: “One aspect concerned adjustments for uniform allowances for employees who left a short time after starting work 
with us, and the second concerned the practice in a small number of stores of holding occasional short staff meetings ranging from five to seven minutes prior to shifts formally starting.”

Freedom Sportsline said: “Foot Locker did at all times pay associates legislated minimum wages; however, it was brought to our attention that the cost of trainers, which store associates are required to wear as part of our dress code, was not consistently deducted as a wage offset.

“In 2014, we reimbursed all effected associates and have updated our dress code to ensure ongoing compliance with minimum wage requirements.”

Is your boss paying at least the minimum wage?

If you’re working in a low-paid job, you can sometimes feel like your rights only exist on paper. But there are ways you can make sure your boss doesn’t wriggle out of his or her obligations.

  1. Keep yourself updated

South Wales Echo

The minimum wage usually changes in October. If you’re 21 or over, you should not be paid less than £6.50 an hour. Younger workers and apprentices have different rates. You can check you’re eligible here . For the full list of rates, click here .

  1. Read your payslip

You are entitled to a payslip – ask your boss if you don’t receive one automatically. Reading it will help you see how much you are earning and how much you are taxed. The Money Advice Service has a guide to help you decode it.

  1. Get to grips with the system

Getty

There are a number of different ways you could be paid. If you’re paid by hour, this should include travelling between different places of work – find out the full rules here. If you receive an annual salary, you can calculate your pay per hour. Even if you are paid for a specific piece of work, there is a fair hourly ratework it out here .

If you work in a restaurant, your boss should not pay you out of your tips. The Mirror ‘s Fair Tips campaign helped secure a law protecting workers back in 2008.

I think my boss is exploiting me – what can I do?

If you want advice, call the government’s Pay and Work Rights Helpline on 0800 917 2368. The service is free and confidential.

Trade unions act as a voice for workers – and one of their priorities is making sure employers pay the minimum wage. If you are a union member and you have trouble at work, your union may be able to provide you with individual advice and even legal support. 

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