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.