Latest ‘name and shame’ list shows industry still needs to put its house in order, warns NHBF

The National Hairdressers’ Federation has expressed dismay that the government’s latest “name and shame” list of employers who have failed to pay their workers their proper National Minimum Wage still contains hairdressing and beauty salons.

The NHBF has been working closely with HM Revenue & Customs to publicise its campaign within the industry to encourage salons to come forward voluntarily and work with it, without financial penalty, to correct any mistakes.

But with the government very clear that all industries can expect a much tougher enforcement regime when the National Living Wage for over-25s is brought in from next April, NHBF president Paul Curry warned salons they simply must get on top of this issue and sort out their pay processes and procedures.

Paying the minimum wage is not optional, it is the law, and the quicker all salons realise this, the better. Similarly, paying the National Living Wage to any employee aged 25 or over will be compulsory from next April.

“We understand it can be complicated with the wage being based around different age bands, which can vary if an employee is an apprentice depending on the stage they’ve reaching in their training.

“But salons need to recognise this is something the government is, rightly, not going to let up on and, if anything, enforcement is set to become even more intense. The penalties for getting this wrong are severe – both financial and in terms of being publicly humiliated through naming and shaming.

The NHBF will continue to work with salons to ensure they are paying their workers what they are legally due. But it is also vital our industry as a whole redoubles its efforts to put its house in order.”