The nhf helps salons prepare for nmw rates rise

Hairdressers, beauty salons and barber shops are urged to make sure their payroll and payment processes are fully up to speed in light of this week's rise in the national minimum wage (NMW). On Wednesday, 1 October, all the minimum wage rates – adult, age 18-20, under 18 and apprentice – went up. To help salons, the NHF has put together a free, easy-to-understand guide to national minimum wage rates and what employers should check so they’re sure they meet their obligations: www.nhf.info/nhf-guides The government is now much more aggressive in fining and “naming and shaming” businesses that fail to pay staff the right rate, even if they’ve made a genuine error.  The NHF urges all salons to spend the next three days making absolutely sure their systems, or their payroll provider, are fully compliant. Currently businesses that fail to pay the minimum wage can be “named and shamed” and fined £20,000. But the government is pushing legislation through Parliament to make it an even tougher £20,000 per each underpaid worker. Talking at the beginning of the week, NHF chief executive Hilary Hall said: “Even if you think you’ve got this sorted, go back and double-check over the next 48 hours that your systems and processes will be compliant when national minimum wage rates change on Wednesday. “The NHF is here to help, so please use our guide – but it’s important to speak to your provider and check your systems. Don’t be caught out by ‘minimum wage Wednesday’.” National minimum wage rates rose from October 1, 2014, and are now: Adults             £6.50               up 19p from £6.31 18-20               £5.13               up 10p from £5.03 Under 18        £3.79               up 7p from £3.72 Apprentices* £2.73               up 5p from £2.68 (*under 19s and for first year)