August 17, 2017 8.31 am This story is over 78 months old

Lincoln bus firm failed to pay staff member the minimum wage

The government has named and shamed a Lincoln firm among a list of 233 UK companies that have failed to pay a member of staff the national minimum and living wage. According to the list issued by the government, PC Coaches, based in Lincoln, failed to pay the national minimum wage to one worker. In the list, PC…

The government has named and shamed a Lincoln firm among a list of 233 UK companies that have failed to pay a member of staff the national minimum and living wage.

According to the list issued by the government, PC Coaches, based in Lincoln, failed to pay the national minimum wage to one worker.

In the list, PC Coaches was ordered to pay £1,773.55 to a member of staff at the firm.

As well as paying back staff the money owed, employers on the total list have been fined a record £1.9 million by the government.

Retail, hairdressing and hospitality businesses were among the most prolific offenders.

A spokesperson for PC Coaches said: “PC Coaches of Lincoln employs in the region of 120 employees across Lincolnshire.

“Unfortunately, during 2016 one employee was accidently underpaid the national minimum wage due to a miscalculation relating to the start of their employment with ourselves following the completion of an apprenticeship scheme in conjunction with Lincoln College.

“Once this had been brought to our attention all such financial arrears were immediately processed and more stringent administrative functions are now in place to avoid similar instances occurring in the future.”

Business Minister Margot James said: “It is against the law to pay workers less than legal minimum wage rates, short-changing ordinary working people and undercutting honest employers.

“Today’s naming round identifies a record £2 million of back pay for workers and sends the clear message to employers that the government will come down hard on those who break the law.”

Common errors made by employers in this round included deducting money from pay packets to pay for uniforms, failure to account for overtime hours, and wrongly paying apprentice rates to workers.

Melissa Tatton, Director at HM Revenue and Customs said: “HMRC is committed to getting money back into the pockets of underpaid workers, and continues to crack down on employers who ignore the law.

“Those not paying workers the National Minimum or Living Wage can expect to face the consequences.”