HMRC recently published some of the most absurd excuses given by employers for not paying their employees the National Minimum Wage (NMW). The list of excuses includes:

• “The employee was not a good worker, so I did not think they deserved to be paid the NMW”
• “My employee is still learning so they are not entitled to the NMW”
• “The NMW does not apply to my business”
• “I have an agreement with my workers that I will not pay them the NMW”
• “My workers like to think of themselves as being self-employed and the NMW does not apply to people who work for themselves.”

Steve Timewell, Director of Individuals and Small Business Compliance at HMRC, said, “The majority of UK employers pay their workers at least the NMW, but this list shows some of the excuses provided to our enforcement officers by less scrupulous businesses. Being underpaid is no joke for workers, so we always apply the law and take action.”