NAMED AND SHAMED

The number of hotels amongst businesses named by the government as paying employees less than the national minimum or living wage rate has risen from 4 out of 197 in August last year to 14 out of 359 this February.

This equates to nearly double the percentage caught, with the amount underpaid by the hotels rising from £10,533 last August to £87,334 this February. In August last year the hotels named, with the underpayment and the number of workers involved were:

Black Swan Hotel, Helmsley, Yorks                  £5,836.66 10 workers 
Macdonalds Hotels and Resorts Ltd, West Lothian    £2,123.10  6 workers 
McCleod Hotels Ltd T/A Beechwood Close Hotel, York £1,526.20 13 workers 
Formby Hall Golf Resort and Spa, Formby, Yorks     £1,047.00  1 worker

This February the hotels list was:

Tag Hotel Ltd T/A Aviator Hotel, Farnborough      £32,094.17 37 workers
Fallowfield Country House Hotel, Abingdon, Oxon   £19,436.88  6 workers
Faversham Arms Hotel, York                        £19,407.32 31 workers 
Swan Hotel (Newby Bridge) Ltd, Ulverston           £5,674.99 14 workers 
Winford Manor Hotel Ltd, Bristol                   £2,182.90  3 workers 
The Stannylands Hotel (Previous Owners) Wilmslow   £1,790.61  2 workers 
The Castle Hotel, Taunton                          £1,404.77  4 workers 
Lanhydrock Hotel and Golf Club, Bodmin             £1,130.65  1 worker 
Hogarths Hotel, Solihull                           £1,104.94  1 worker 
Highbullen Hotel Golf and Country Club, Umberleigh   £907.23  8 workers 
Salcombe Harbour Hotel, Salcombe                     £455.69  2 workers 
Worlington Hall Country Hotel, Bury St Edmunds       £323.07  1 worker 
Curran Court Hotel Ltd (Previous Owners) Larne       £282.88  3 workers 
Jaguna Ltd T/A The Swan Hotel, Bradford on Avon      £188.59  2 workers

The government says that the hospitality sector is one of the worst offenders. Common excuses for failing to pay are using tips to top up pay, and making staff pay for their own uniforms, or Christmas party.

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