Wage shocker at hotel chain

Firm named after underpaying

A West Lothian- based hotel firm has been named and shamed for paying employees less than the National Minimum Wage.

Bathgate company Macdonald Hotels and Resorts, which owns Houstoun House, were included on a list of 23 Scottish companies who failed to pay workers the base rate.

Six members of staff were owed a total of £2123 after they were illegally underpaid.

The organisation, which posted operating profits of £ 16.9million last year, claimed that a simple mathematics error was to blame.

And a spokeswoman for Macdonald Hotels said: “We employ over 4000 people and all are paid at least the minimum wage, however, an error occurred in calculating the accommodation offset for six members of our live-in staff which regrettably caused this situation.

“We have already repaid each of them the money and apologised.”

From April 2016, all workers aged 25 and over are legally entitled to at least £7.20 an hour, while those aged 21-24 should have to receive a minimum of £6.70.

Those aged 18 to 20 are entitled to £5.30, under 18s can expect to receive at least £3.87, while apprentices are guaranteed a minimum of £3.30 an hour.

Macdonald Hotels have now come under fire from politicians over the revelations.

SNP MSP for Linlithgow, Fiona Hyslop said the company’s actions are not acceptable.

She added: “The law is clear that the Minimum Wage must be paid to staff, so to see a major employer shamed in this way is unacceptable and I would expect them to sharpen up their practice and comply with the law and always pay the Minimum Wage.

“I would urge them to go even further and to pay the Living Wage.

“Major employers in West Lothian should be setting an example of good practice not being shamed for bad practice.”

Lothian MSP Neil Findlay also spoke of his shock at the news.

He said: “This is an absolutely damning indictment of Macdonald Hotels.

“Their appalling treatment of workers denying people even the legally set National Minimum Wage is beneath contempt.

“Anyone with any shred of decency should utterly condemn this exploitation of working people.”

The UK Government’s business minister, Margot James, said: “It is not acceptable that some employers fail to pay at least the minimum wage their workers are entitled to.

“So we’ll continue to crack down on those who ignore the law, including by naming and shaming them.”

We have already repaid each of them and apologised