Government issues major warning for workers to ‘check pay’ over Christmas

Check your pay to ensure you’re not out of pocket

To ensure that workers aren’t short changed, the government is taking action to Make Work Pay.

It is reminding workers to ‘Check Your Pay’ over the festive period and this includes seasonal staff on short-term contracts.

They include those that work in retail, hotels, Christmas markets, bars, restaurants, garden centres, warehouses and most other employment settings.

Temporary seasonal staff, people on short-term contracts and students employed over the Christmas period are legally entitled to the same minimum pay rates as other workers, and HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) is urging workers to make sure they receive at least the National Minimum Wage or National Living Wage.

You should make sure to check your hourly wage and look out for other things that can lead to underpayment.

Among these things are unpaid working time, such as starting early or staying late to open and close premises, cleaning or completing mandatory training outside of working hours, and making sure they are paid properly for extra shifts covered.

What is unacceptable according to the government is also the deduction of money by employers for things like uniforms or equipment as this takes a worker’s pay below the minimum wage.

Wage arrears of £5.8 million due to 25,200 underpaid UK workers were identified by HMRC in 2024 to 2025, which resulted in around 750 penalties being issued, totalling £4.2 million to non-compliant employers.

“We want to make sure that workers are paid correctly this Christmas. People should check their hourly rate and look out for any deductions or unpaid working time, which could take them below the minimum wage”, Kevin Hubbard, HMRC Director Individuals and Small Business Compliance said.

Visit GOV.UK and search ‘check your pay’ to find the information you need.