Are you getting paid enough?

The minimum wage is a legal requirement to ensure that staff receive a minimum amount of pay for every hour worked. This applies whether you are a zero-hours worker, temporary or agency staff, or a casual worker. Recent cases have decided that some mini-cab drivers, couriers and delivery workers are entitled to the national minimum wage, as well as foreign workers with a job in the UK. The only people not covered are those who are genuinely self-employed.

Currently, apprentices and young people over school leaving age are entitled to at least £4.81 per hour. Those aged 18-20 should be paid £6.83 and 21-22-year-olds can claim £9.18 per hour. Once you are 23, you are entitled to the national living wage which is currently £9.50 per hour. The amount goes up every year in April.

If your employer charges you for tools, equipment, or uniforms, it is likely that these charges should be considered in deciding whether you are actually being paid the minimum wage.

You are entitled to be paid the minimum wage for all hours that you are at work. This would cover time ‘on call’ if you must be at or near your workplace for the whole period. In some cases, it will cover periods when you have to be available for work but can sleep if not required.

If you think that you are not being paid the national minimum wage for all the hours that you work, you can get free advice from ACAS. Alternatively, you can raise a grievance with your employer or contact HMRC. If the matter can’t be sorted out, you can bring a claim to an employment tribunal for the money that is due to you –normally you have to do this within three months from the last pay date when you were underpaid.

If you’re looking for a new or a better job, drop into one of the weekly work clubs that take place in Northam, Bitterne, Weston, Shirley and the city centre, where you can get free advice and one to one support from our team of Employment Officers.

Making sure your employer is paying you at least the minimum wage is important, especially if you are struggling financially. If you are worried about money and concerned about making ends meet there is support and advice available to help you:

• Check out the Money Saving Expert website for lots of useful information about how to make your money go further
• Contact Southampton Environment Centre for useful tips on how to save money, reduce your energy bills, or apply for a grant to help meet your utility bills
• Check to see if you’re eligible to claim any extra benefit payments by using the government’s online benefit calculator
• If you are on a low income and have less than £16,000 in savings you may be eligible for Council Tax Reduction which is available for tenants and homeowners
• Talk to our Welfare Rights & Money Advice Team for advice on managing your money, tackling debt, and claiming benefits