Latest news with #Colum
Belfast Telegraph
03-06-2025
- Business
- Belfast Telegraph
Underpaying staff was result of new clock-in system and never a deliberate act, says Co Down hotel
The Whistledown Hotel in Warrenpoint was among 28 firms in Northern Ireland highlighted by the UK Government last week for failing to pay minimum wage to staff, in some cases as far back as 2022. In total, around 1,650 workers in Northern Ireland were underpaid almost £160,000. According to the Department of Business and Trade, the Whistledown had failed to pay £2,154.29 to 46 workers. The Northern Ireland company with the highest bill was Property Management Services, which has a registered office address in Annagh Drive, Craigavon. DBT said the company had underpaid 414 staff to the tune of £54,852.44. Colum and Sarah Mc Avoy, the directors of the Whistledown, said the action which led to the discrepancy at their company had not been intended to deprive staff of the minimum wage; they said it was a 'historical matter' which had been identified in 2022. 'We are confident that the public will understand this issue arose during an exceptionally challenging time and that it was not the result of any deliberate wrongdoing,' they said. The issue, the directors added, had arisen when it charged staff refundable deposits for a new contactless fob system. They said: 'During the Covid-19 pandemic, we made the decision to replace our traditional clock-in system with contactless fobs in response to staff concerns and in line with best hygiene practices at the time. This change was made to protect our team's health and wellbeing, in a period of extreme uncertainty for all. 'As part of this transition, a refundable deposit process was implemented. 'Following a routine review, HMRC later highlighted that this accounting approach had, in a small number of cases, temporarily brought some employees below the minimum wage threshold for a specific hour. 'This was never a deliberate act. The issue had not been flagged by our payroll system and was only identified through HMRC's retrospective compliance checks.' The pair said they had taken 'immediate action' to rectify the situation. 'All affected employees were fully reimbursed, and the process was amended in direct consultation with HMRC to ensure future compliance. 'Throughout the Covid crisis, we did our utmost to safeguard the livelihoods of our team, making full use of the furlough scheme to retain staff and maintain jobs at a time when our industry was under extraordinary pressure. 'Like many hospitality businesses, we were navigating an avalanche of sudden changes to operations, public health protocols, and employment regulations, all while trying to keep our business afloat and our team protected. 'The vast majority of our staff have always been paid above the minimum wage.' They said the company did not appear on the most up-to-date HMRC list of companies who had not paid the minimum wage. They added: 'We remain fully committed to fair pay and responsible employment practices. 'Many of our team members have been with us for over 20 years, a fact we are incredibly proud of and one that reflects the supportive working culture we strive to maintain.' A Government spokesperson said: 'The minimum wage is not optional — it is the law. 'We have issued clear guidance for employers on how they can pay their workers correctly.'
Al Jazeera
20-03-2025
- Politics
- Al Jazeera
Tamara Turki
Tamara Turki is a Palestinian Austrian journalist based in New York. She is a law graduate from King's College London and is currently attending Colum
