The UK Government has fined Holland & Barrett for underpaying staff the national minimum wage (NMW).
The health and wellness retailer was named among 500 companies for allegedly failing to pay £153,079.29 to 2,551 workers.
A total of £10m in fines has been issued to the “named and shamed” companies for “breaking the rules”, the UK’s Department for Business and Trade stated.
Some £6m has now been paid back to employees as part of the UK Government’s ‘Plan Make Work Pay’ scheme – designed to grow the economy and raise living standards.
The national minimum wage is the UK’s minimum hourly wage that an employer can legally pay their workers, with rates varying by age.
“Every worker deserves a fair day’s pay for a fair day’s work, and this government will not tolerate rogue employers who short-change their staff,” said UK Business Secretary Peter Kyle.
“I know that no employer wants to end up on one of these lists. But our ‘Plan to Make Work Pay’ cracks down on those not playing by the rules.
“This ensures a level playing field where all businesses pay what they owe whilst workers receive the boost to their living standards they deserve.”
Holland & Barrett have hit back at the fine.
A spokesperson told Cosmetics Business that it is related to a “historic issue” dating back between 2015 and 2021, which it claimed was “fully resolved” in 2022.
“This was not a case of deliberate underpayment,” the spokesperson said.
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