National Minimum Wage

Coverage examines how statutory wage floors affect restaurants, pubs, bars, and catering businesses across the UK, including annual rate changes, enforcement activity, and the operational impact on payroll, rota management, and pricing. Reporting also includes government policy updates, compliance risk, and how multi-site operators and independents are adjusting recruitment, benefits, and training strategies in response to rising baseline pay rates.

Mar- 2020 -

27 March

Comment

What we know about furlough leave and the CJRS

HMRC published details of the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS) on 26.3.20 which are available here: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/claim-for-wage-costs-through-the-coronavirus-job-retention-scheme Key points include: Employees that employers can claim CJRS for For the purposes of CJRS, the definition of employee would include workers and agency workers provided they are subject to PAYE i.e. this…
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24 March

Coronavirus

Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme – Advice for Employers

Key points include: – Furloughed workers should not undertake any work for the company, including answering calls or emails – JRS should not interrupt an employees’ continuity of service – Annual leave will continue to accrue – Grants should be structured so no PAYE tax or national insurance contributions are due…
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Jan- 2020 -

24 January

Breweries and Distilleries

Marston’s delivers ‘credible’ trading performance

Marston’s has announced overall like-for-like sales increased by 1% in the 16-week period ended 18 January. Trading over the Christmas fortnight was “strong”, with a like-for-like sales growth of 4.5%. The brewer said this period compensated for more “subdued” trading in the first three weeks of December, when poor weather…
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Oct- 2019 -

24 October

Comment

Pizza Express: how to keep pizza on the menu and on the High Street

Recent news that Pizza Express, is engaging in ‘debt talks’ has sparked fears that it could be the next company to disappear from the high street. Will it be possible to turn the company’s fortunes around? In a sector as fast-moving as the UK restaurant industry, even small changes can…
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Sep- 2019 -

11 September

Government

Corbyn’s £10 minimum wage pledge ‘difficult to stomach’ for restaurants

Jeremy Corbyn has pledged a £10 an hour minimum wage for all workers over 16 if the Labour party is elected to government. In a speech delivered to the Trades Union Congress (TUC) in Brighton, Corbyn said Labour would also deliver action on the gender pay gap, equal rights for…
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Feb- 2019 -

14 February

Advice

Evolving employment laws – a stronger future for workers’ rights

Since 2010, the UK has experienced lower unemployment rates across every region, underpinned by a strong and innovative labour market that has seized on the opportunities offered by new technologies, emerging business models and changing ways of working. Existing employment law and policy framework has found a balance between flexibility…
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Sep- 2018 -

24 September

Government

Hospitality sector found to have highest number of underpaid staff

The hospitality sector was estimated to have the highest number of staff who were paid less than minimum wage, accounting for 54,000 jobs. This is according to a report by HMRC as part of the government’s investigation and initiative to clampdown on employers underpaying their staff. The retail sector came…
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Jul- 2018 -

24 July

Apps & Technology

Frank Field report finds some Deliveroo riders ‘earning £2 per hour’

A report released today concluding a five-week investigation by MP Frank Field has found that some Deliveroo drivers are earning as little as £2 per hour. The MP demanded that Deliveroo riders were paid the minimum wage of £7.83 per hour, Field’s report said that the company kept an oversupply…
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12 July

Government

EXCLUSIVE: Catering company hits back at HMRC over ‘underpaying employers list’ and fines

Corporate cake and biscuit caterer, Image on Food, has accused HMRC of misrepresenting information regarding supposed staff underpayments. The HMRC list published 6 July said that Image on Food owed 14 members of its 50 strong workforce £3,514.74 in unpaid wages, however the catering company say the issue is “not…
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Jun- 2018 -

29 June

Business

Deliveroo riders awarded ‘six-figure settlement’ in employment rights case

Food delivery app firm Deliveroo has paid compensation to 50 of its riders who said they were denied employment rights, including National Minimum Wage and paid holiday. The riders, represented by law firm Leigh Day, all worked as couriers for the company which labelled them as ‘self-employed suppliers’. Lawyers from…
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