Two pharmacy multiples among top 20 employers failing to pay minimum wage

Two community pharmacy multiples are among the top 20 employers that have been called out by the government for paying their staff below minimum wage.

In the latest His Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC) list, more than 500 companies have failed to pay the national living and national minimum wage.

Of all those named by the government, the fourth largest underpayment was by pharmacy multiple L Rowland & Company (Retail) Limited, which underpaid a total of £307,342.87 to 2,293 workers.

Another multiple named was Day Lewis PLC – ranked at sixteenth on the list – which underpaid £82,819.47 to 604 workers.

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Two other pharmacies were also listed among the 518 employers named and shamed by the government, including J M McGill Ltd in Doncaster, which came in at number 27 and underpaid £38,178.62 to 364 workers.

H. Wilson (Chemists) limited, trading as Bastwell Pharmacy in Blackburn, was named at number 103, and had underpaid £8,925.53 to 11 workers. As of April 2025, the national living wage increased £12.21 per hour – up from £11.44.

Alongside this, minimum wages for under 18–20-year-olds increased to £10 per hour for all eligible workers, while minimum wages for under 18s and apprentices increased to £7.55 per hour.

The 518 employers and businesses named by the government last week have since paid back what they owe to their staff and faced financial penalties of up to 200% of their underpayment. The investigations by HMRC concluded between 2015-2022.

The Pharmacists’ Defence Association (PDA) noted that the beaches highlighted by government were ‘unlikely to have involved pharmacists, as their rates of pay should be significantly above minimum wage levels’.

However, it said it remained concerned about the risks around some foundation trainees potentially being paid less than the minimum wage if they worked beyond their contracted hours.

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It urged any business employing a foundation trainee to ‘check the actual hourly rate the individual is receiving’. A statement on the PDA website added: ‘The breach of minimum wage is yet another example of poor business behaviour in the pharmacy sector.

‘Significant breaches of employment law, or the NHS Terms of Service by pharmacy businesses, may be indicative of overall poor compliance with rules and regulations.

‘Due to this, regulators should be concerned about the conduct of those corporations, and take appropriate action.’

Minister for employment rights, Justin Madders said: ‘There is no excuse for employers to undercut their workers, and we will continue to name companies who break the law and don’t pay their employees what they are owed.

‘Ensuring workers have the support they need and making sure they receive a fair day’s pay for a fair day’s work is a key commitment in our Plan for Change. This will put more money in working people’s pockets, helping to boost productivity and ending low pay.’

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Baroness Philippa Stroud, chair of the Low Pay Commission – which advises the government on the levels of national minimum and living wages, said: ‘Underpayment leaves workers out of pocket and disadvantages the majority of employers who do abide by the rules.

‘These naming rounds play an important part in ensuring that all workers receive their full wages and that they are aware there is support for them to ensure that they do.’