Could There Be Such A Thing As Bad Publicity?

Guidance on how companies can avoid breaching minimum wage rules.

P.T. Barnum, renowned circus owner, is associated with the phrase “There is no such thing as bad publicity”. Perhaps in the world of circus this rings true, but in the world of business, there is most definitely ‘bad publicity’ and the public naming of shaming of companies who are in breach of the National Minimum Wage Regulations appears to be just this.

The government has recently published its latest tranche of companies who have failed to pay workers the minimum wage, with 658 companies named. The exercise is part of the government’s strategy seeking to ensure companies’ compliance with their statutory obligations. It may be a surprise that it is not just small companies who find themselves on the name and shame list. Top of the list this time was B&Q, which was found to owe almost half a million pounds to some 4,530 employees, with Five Guys in ninth position, owing £54,642.47 to some 3,699 workers.