HMRC is urging seasonal staff to check their pay slips to make sure they are paid the right amount for short-term contracts
Temporary seasonal staff on short-term contacts are legally entitled to receive at least the same minimum pay rates as other workers, including the correct rates of national minimum wage or national living wage.
This includes seasonal staff on short-term contracts working in retail, hotels, Christmas markets, bars, restaurants, garden centres and warehouses.
People should check their hourly wage and look out for other things that can lead to underpayment. These include 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.
Also, if employers deduct money for costs like uniforms or equipment and this takes a worker’s pay below the minimum wage, this is not acceptable and should be reported.
Kevin Hubbard, HMRC director individuals and small business compliance, said: ‘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.
‘Always make sure that you check your pay. If you think you have been short changed, even if you no longer work for the employer, we are here to help.
‘Visit gov.uk and search “check your pay” to find the information you need.’
The national minimum wage hourly rates are currently:
• £12.21 - age 21 and over (national living wage)
• £10.00 - age 18 to 20
• £7.55 - age under 18
• £7.55 – apprentice
Anyone not getting the correct pay or concerned that someone they know may not be receiving what they are due, can report it to HMRC online. It takes around five minutes to complete, reports can be made at any time, even after the job has ended, and can be submitted confidentially.
To speak with someone, raise a concern or get further information about the national minimum wage, phone the Acas Pay and Work Rights Helpline on 03001231100 for confidential, free advice (Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm).
Information and support are available for employers to ensure they are paying their workers correctly at gov.uk and they can also contact Acas, or the Labour Relations Agency in Northern Ireland, for advice.
The two most common causes of minimum wage underpayment are deductions and unpaid working time. Employers who break minimum wage rules can face penalties of up to 200% of the underpayments owed to workers. They must also pay the outstanding arrears due to workers on top of the penalty.
In 2024-25 HMRC identified wage arrears of £5.8m due to 25,200 underpaid UK workers and issued around 750 penalties totalling £4.2m to non-compliant employers.
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