Company directors and 14 other jobs not automatically entitled to Minimum Wage
The National Minimum Wage and National Living Wage are two essential pay rates that most workers are entitled to
If you believe everyone is entitled to the National Minimum Wage, you're sadly mistaken. There are a few professions that do not guarantee this basic pay or the National Living Wage, including company directors.
The National Living Wage offers a higher rate for workers aged 21 and over, while the National Minimum Wage sets the lowest legal hourly wage for employees. However, not all workers automatically receive these rates, including 15 job categories.
Those who might miss out on this vital wage also include armed forces personnel. The Government further specifies the following:
- People shadowing others at work
- Workers on government pre-apprenticeships schemes
- People on the following European Union (EU) programmes: Leonardo da Vinci, Erasmus+, Comenius
- People working on a Jobcentre Plus Work trial for up to 6 weeks
- Share fishermen
- Prisoners
- People living and working in a religious community
- Self-employed people running their own business
- Company directors
- People who are volunteers or voluntary workers
- Workers on a government employment programme, such as the Work Programme
- Members of the armed forces
- Family members of the employer living in the employer’s home
- Workers younger than school leaving age (usually 16)
- Higher and further education students on work experience or a work placement up to one year
- Non-family members living in the employer’s home who share in the work and leisure activities and are treated as one of the family, for example, au pairs
- Part-time
- Casual labourers, for example, someone hired for one day
- Agency workers
- Workers and homeworkers paid by the number of items they make
- Apprentices
- Trainees, workers on probation
- Disabled workers
- Agricultural workers
- Foreign workers
- Seafarers
- Offshore workers
What is the National Minimum Wage?
The wage rates set by the Government are updated annually on April 1. As of April 1, 2025, the rates are:
- £12.21 (aged 21 and over)
- £10 (aged 18 to 20)
- £7.55 (aged under 18)
- £7.55 (apprentice rate)
UK citizens are encouraged to use the Government's minimum wage calculator to check if they're earning the National Minimum Wage. If you think you should be getting the National Minimum Wage but aren't, contact Acas.
For more information, visit the Government's website.
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