Take a tip from me

Naively, I used to think that tips - to hairdressers, waiters, etc. - helped top up their meagre wages. In fact, their employers used tips as a kind of subsidy to augment the low wages that workers in these industries received. The Department for Business Innovation & Skills has just published The national minimum wage: a code of best practice on service charges, tips, gratuities and cover charges which makes it clear that this practice cannot legally continue, and everyone must receive the National Minimum Wage.

Rate for the job?

The National Minimum Wage came into force 10 years ago today (Wednesday 1st April) despite fears from some quarters that it would "destroy" thousands of jobs; research shows that this has not been the case. The legislation is backed by penalties for employers who do not pay the minimum wage and these have been strengthened in recent years.