HMRC issues 'check your pay' warning to thousands of Brits ahead of Christmas
HMRC has issued a warning to the thousands of Brits working temporary or seasonal jobs this Christmas.
The tax office has urged workers to "check their payslips" to make sure they are being paid correctly. HMRC says seasonal staff and students on short-term contracts working in shops, hotels, Christmas markets, garden centres, restaurants and warehouses, are legally entitled to the same minimum wage rates as other permanent workers.
In the UK, the National Living Wage is an "obligatory" minimum wage businesses pay workers in the UK aged 23 and over for each hour they work. The National Minimum Wage is the rate businesses employing people between the ages of 22 years and under can pay
The two most common causes of incorrect minimum wage payments include deductions - for things like uniforms or tools - and unpaid working time such as time spent opening and closing a shop, training, picking up extra shifts and working longer hours.
Last year, HMRC identified wage arrears of £13.7million due to more than 108,000 underpaid UK workers. Employers who are found in breach of minimum wage rules face penalties of up to 200% of the underpayments owed to workers and must pay the outstanding arrears to employees.
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Anyone not being paid what they are entitled to, or people concerned that someone they know may not be getting paid correctly, can report it online on the Gov.uk website here. HMRC says the process takes around 10 minutes and reports can be made after the employment has ended. You can also phone Acas Pay and Work Rights helpline on 0300 123 1100 confidentially for help and advice.
Marc Gill, director of individuals and small business compliance, HMRC, said: “We want to make sure that all workers, including seasonal staff and students, are being paid what they are due this festive period, which is why we are reminding everyone to check their pay.
“People should check their hourly rate and look out for any deductions or unpaid working time. It could take them below the minimum wage. HMRC looks into every minimum wage complaint, so if you think you are being short-changed you should get in touch. Don’t lose out - report it."
One in four UK workers are taking up temporary work this Christmas to help cover extra seasonal costs, according to research by the job site Indeed Flex. This year some of the UK's largest supermarket chains - including Tesco, M&S, Sainsbury's and Aldi - announced they were looking to hire over 70,000 temporary workers to help with demand this year.
Current UK hourly pay rates
- 23 and over - £10.42 (National Living Wage)
- 21 to 22 - £10.18 (National Minimum Wage)
- 18 to 20 - £7.49
- Under 18 - £5.28
- Apprentice - £5.28 - the apprentice rate applies to people aged under 19, or people over 19 in the first year of their apprenticeship.
Full details about the National Living and Minimum Wage on Gov.uk here.
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