Rate of record
Naming-and-shaming: the DBT employer list
The Department for Business and Trade publishes a periodic naming round of employers found to have underpaid the minimum wage. Inclusion is automatic above a low threshold.
What triggers inclusion
An employer becomes eligible for naming once HMRC or the Fair Work Agency has issued a notice of underpayment that has not been successfully appealed. The Department for Business and Trade considers every case for naming where the total arrears owed to workers was £500 or moregov.uk.
Where rounds are published
DBT publishes the list as a periodic collection at gov.uk. Each round names the employer, total arrears, number of workers affected, and the category of breach (uniform deduction, unpaid hours, accommodation cap, salary sacrifice, etc.).
Sector mix
Hospitality, care, retail and hairdressing dominate the historic rounds. Care is a repeat-offender sector primarily due to sleep-in disputes, uniform deductions and travel time. Retail recurs for uniform charges and till-shortage deductions.
What being named costs
- Reputational damage; press cycles attach to each round.
- Customer / partner contract reviews; many procurement frameworks require non-naming.
- Recruitment friction; graduate and skilled hires shun listed employers.