Major UK Employers Cited for Underpaying Staff

More than 500 employers across the UK, including prominent names like PizzaExpress, Hilton, British Airways and Capita, have been publicly named by the government for failing to pay some staff the legal minimum wage.

The list, published by the Department for Business and Trade, reveals that nearly 60,000 workers were collectively short-changed by over £7.4 million. All companies named have since paid back what was owed and received fines of up to 200% of the underpaid wages.

The government initiative, supported by investigations carried out by HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC), covers breaches that occurred between 2015 and 2022. However, for many of the companies involved, the underpayments were described as historic and due to administrative or technical oversights—errors that had been corrected years before the list's publication.

Who Was Named?

PizzaExpress ranked second on the list, having failed to pay £760,702 to 8,470 workers—about £90 per employee on average. A spokesperson for the casual dining chain described the issue as a “historic unintentional technicality” occurring between 2012 and 2018, which was swiftly rectified once identified.

Hilton UK Hotels Limited underpaid 20 workers by £18,924—almost £950 per person. Hilton stated that the issue stemmed from an administrative error identified and resolved in 2019.

British Airways was also cited, with £231,276 owed to 2,165 cabin crew members due to a payroll oversight during their first two months of employment between 2014 and 2017. The company said it conducted an audit, apologised, and made the payments several years ago.

The outsourcing giant Capita topped the list in terms of total amount owed—£1.5 million to 5,543 workers. A spokesperson attributed this to “inadvertent underpayments” stemming from operational practices, including an extra 25 minutes a week for call centre staff to log in for shifts. Capita reported that all impacted staff were reimbursed and that internal systems had since been overhauled.

Contract caterer Elior UK, holiday park operator Parkdean Resorts, Lidl, and Halfords were also among the companies named.

Behind the Breaches

While the companies involved have stressed the accidental nature of the breaches, employment experts note that easily overlooked factors often contribute to underpayments.

Julie Moore, a partner at professional services firm S&W, explained that the government’s rules on minimum wage are“uncompromising,” and even minor technical errors—like unpaid uniform costs, late finishes, or unpaid dressing time—can cause pay to drop below the legal threshold.

Moore also warned that salary sacrifice schemes or salaried workers doing small amounts of unrecorded overtime could result in earnings falling below minimum wage requirements. Even if the errors are corrected voluntarily, firms can still face public naming and reputational damage years later.

“The government uses workers to police National Minimum Wage compliance, and it’s proved extremely effective,” she said. “Most enforcement cases result from employee complaints.”

Industry Reactions

Some companies, including Elior UK and Parkdean Resorts, expressed disappointment at being included on the list. A spokesperson for Elior noted that the issue affected “a very small number of colleagues” and was resolved in collaboration with HMRC. Parkdean attributed its breach to uniform supply costs flagged during a review between 2018 and 2021.

Despite the explanations, unions have called for stricter enforcement of these regulations. Paul Nowak, General Secretary of the Trades Union Congress (TUC), said wage breaches harm not just workers but the broader economy: “Every pound stolen from a worker’s pocket is a pound not spent in local shops, cafes and high streets.”

A Reminder for Employers

In April 2025, the National Living Wage for workers aged 21 and over increased to £12.21 per hour, with rates for younger workers and apprentices also rising. With regulations becoming stricter, the government’s message to employers is clear: administrative errors are no excuse.

Employers are being urged to review their payroll practices, ensure transparency in calculating wages, and provide accessible channels for staff to raise concerns. Failure to do so can lead to fines, repayments—and very public scrutiny.