658 UK firms including B&Q ordered to pay workers £4m in underpaid wages
The government has issued over 600 employers with penalties totaling £7m for historical minimum wage violations. Major retailers B&Q and fast food chain Five Guys are among the named companies required to make restitution.
The UK government has ordered more than 600 employers to pay outstanding wages to workers who were paid below the national minimum rate, imposing penalties worth £7m on the offending firms. The Department for Business and Trade lists include 658 specific businesses spanning shops, restaurants, nurseries, social care providers, and NHS trusts. Underpayments covered periods ranging from 2013 to 2025, depending on the company. Staff between 18 and 21 earned rates of £10.85 and £12.71 respectively.
B&Q owes more than £456,000 to 4,530 employees. The company stated the shortfalls were unintentional errors regarding geographical allowances. It reported that all affected colleagues received full payment in July 2025. Five Guys faces debts exceeding £54,000 owed to 3,699 workers. This chain attributed its underpayments to technical differences in how payroll regulations were applied, a point confirmed during an independent review by HMRC. The government verified all figures before issuing these compliance orders.
