Seasonal staff should check their pay to make sure they are being paid correctly, according to HMRC.
The tax office warned that festive workers may be missing out on the National Minimum Wage or National Living Wage and should check payslips carefully.
Seasonal staff and students on short-term contracts over the Christmas period, including those working in shops, hotels, Christmas markets, garden centres, restaurants and warehouses, are legally entitled to the same minimum rates as other workers.
HMRC said these workers should check their hourly rate of pay – in particular, looking out for any unpaid working time, such as time spent opening and closing a shop, training, picking up extra shifts and working longer hours. Deductions, for things like uniforms or tools, can also reduce pay rates.
In the 2022 to 2023 tax year, HMRC identified wage arrears of £13.7m due to more than 108,000 UK workers being underpaid.
HMRC: Check your payslips
Marc Gill, HMRC’s director individuals and small business compliance, said: “We want to make sure that all workers, including seasonal staff and students, are being paid what they are due this festive period, which is why we are reminding everyone to check their pay.
“People should check their hourly rate and look out for any deductions or unpaid working time. It could take them below the minimum wage.
“HMRC looks into every minimum wage complaint, so if you think you are being short-changed you should get in touch. Don’t lose out – report it.”
What is the National Minimum Wage?
The National Minimum Wage is currently:
- Apprentices – £5.28/hour
- Age under 18 – £5.28/hour
- Age 18 to 20 – £7.49/hour
- Age 21 to 22 – £10.18/hour
- Age 23 and over – £10.42/hour (National Living Wage)
Anyone not being paid what they are entitled to, or people concerned that someone they know may not be getting paid correctly, can report it online at GOV.UK. It is an easy process that takes around 10 minutes and reports can be made after the employment has ended.
The National Minimum Wage will go up from 1 April 2024. From this date the rates will be:
- Apprentices – £6.40/hour
- Age under 18 – £6.40/hour
- Age 18 to 20 – £8.60/hour
- Age 21 and over – £11.44/hour (National Living Wage)
