Question about minimum wage when you're paid hourly.

moggle97

Good afternoon

This question is now hypothetical, as I am currently on furlough and have just found out the minimum wage increase won't make any difference for my income as I am not working. (I believe this is correct). However would be useful to know for the future.

I currently work in a 0 hour contract role, paid hourly. We're paid 2 weeks later, so if I work 40 hours one week I will be paid for those 40 hours 2 weeks later (don't know what that's officially called so hopefully that's clear). I'm also on minimum wage. Say I work 40 hours a week, 2 weeks before April, meaning I'm paid in April; will I get paid the new minimum wage, or because I worked those hours in March, will I get paid the previous/rate? 

I believe I'd be paid the new minimum wage but I am not sure.

Hopefully what I'm trying to say makes sense

lincroft1710

I would have thought you would have been paid at the rate applicable when you did the actual work

74jax

lincroft1710 said:

I would have thought you would have been paid at the rate applicable when you did the actual work

Yes I would have thought so too.

Just looked up online and it is explained as :
The higher rate starts to apply from the next 'pay reference period' after the increase. This means someone's pay might not go up straight away.

Example

There’s a minimum wage rate increase on 1 April.

Sam gets paid monthly on the 15th of the month. The old rate will apply until Sam's next pay reference period starts on 16 April.

As a minimum, Sam should get paid:

the old rate for 1 April to 15 April

the new rate for 16 April to 15 May

moggle97

I see, thank you!