Thackeray’s has paid a hefty price after a ‘one-off’ administrative error landed the restaurant on a list of 92 companies named and shamed by the Government for failing to pay the minimum wage.
The incident occurred after the restaurant – which has consistently been ranked among the best dining establishments in Tunbridge Wells – failed to move an employee from one minimum wage bracket for a certain age to another.
A total of £211.70 was then owed to the employee, enough to place the restaurant at number 75 on the list published by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills.
The worst offending company, TSS Limited, a security firm in London, failed to pay £1,742,655.56 to 2,519 employees.
Thackeray’s manager, Gary Beach, said: “The situation which arose was a one-off which was rectified immediately.”
Currently the adult rate for the National Minimum Wage is £6.70 per hour, applicable to employees 21 or over, with 18 to 20 year olds on £5.30 per hour and 16 to 17 year olds entitled to £3.87 per hour.
Business Minister Nick Boles said: “As a one nation Government on the side of working people we are determined that everyone who is entitled to the National Minimum Wage receives it. There is no excuse for not paying staff the wages they’re entitled to.
“Our policy of naming and shaming employers who ignore the law means there are consequences for their reputation as well as their wallets.
“In April we will introduce a new National Living Wage which will mean a pay rise of over £900 a year for someone working full time on the minimum wage, and we will enforce this equally robustly.”
