Friday, 11 June 2010

The ten best excuses for not paying minimum wage

The National Minimum Wage (NMW) is the minimum amount per hour that most workers in the UK are entitled to be paid. Currently the National Minimum Wage for workers aged 21 and over is £5.80 per hour (though all rates are due to increase in October 2010)

Direct Gov: The National Minimum Wage

Compliance with NMW legislation is enforced by officers from HM Revenue & Customs who may carry out inspections of employers at any time. There is no requirement to provide reasons for an inspection.

Clearly lost for words, here's a list of the top ten best (or is it worst?) excuses that were given to visiting National Minimum Wage enforcement teams by employers who were failing to comply with the requirement:
  1. He doesn't deserve it - he's a total waste of space
  2. But she only wanted £3 an hour
  3. I didn't think the workers were worth NMW
  4. I didn't think it applied to small employers
  5. He's disabled
  6. They can't cope on their own and it's more that they would get in their own country
  7. She's on benefits - if you add those to her pay, it totals the NMW
  8. He's over 65 so the NMW doesn't apply
  9. The workers can't speak English
  10. I only took him on as a favour
  • Today's HR Case Studies Brain Teaser: Do any of these excuses have any justification?
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1 comment:

  1. Anonymous11 June 2010 at 14:25

    Now let’s see:

    1. You’re still paying too much if he’s that bad. Isn’t that what performance management is about, getting ‘wastes of space’ out the door
    2. Why not - the laws of supply and demand. Don’t knock it
    3. Sounds like a salary survey is required. Who decides a worker is worth NMW or a wage akin to a footballer
    4. No excuse there, the clue’s in the title
    5. That one’s beyond me!!
    6. If this means can’t do the job without hand holding then maybe see 1). As for pay in own country see 2)
    7. Now depending on what benefits she’s on then maybe there’s an argument here.
    8. He’ll be getting a pension, what more can he expect, blimey!
    9. Fairly critical in some roles, not so in others
    10. Not sure what favours are worth these days!!!!!

    So, Mr Editor – are you on the NMW or do you just do it for the love?

    EBTG

    ReplyDelete

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