A SALON owner says she has made improvements to her record keeping after being named and shamed for breaking minimum wage rules.

Deborah Adcock, of LJ Beauty and Hair Salon, in Woods Terrace, Murton, County Durham, admitted her mistake in underpaying a former member of staff by 40p a week over a seven week period.

But she continued to contest the hours the teenager had worked while in her employment, which accounted for the majority of the money owed.

She said: “I am all for naming and shaming, but people need to know the circumstances behind it.”

The Government said the 32-year-old businesswoman had neglected to pay £463.60 to the former trainee.

LJ Beauty and Hair was among 70 businesses named on a list by Business Minister Jo Swinson for breaking minimum wage rules, four of which were in the region, including another hairdressing salon and a takeaway.

The Minister said the businesses faced reputational and financial consequences.

Mrs Adcock said Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC), which audited the salon in June last year, had closed the case against her after she agreed to pay the former member of staff what she was owed in instalments. She had also been fined.

She said she had been at fault after she underpaid the woman by 40p a week over a seven week period after she came off the apprentice rate.

But she said the teenager had also claimed hours that she did not work – 32 and-a-half hours a week.

She said: “Twenty nine hours in a week was the most she ever worked. “Unfortunately I didn’t keep timesheets. It was my first year in business and I did not realise I needed them.

“The girls come in and work the hours they are given.”

In a Facebook post she said to customers: “I can assure you that all my employees are paid the correct wages in accordance with the law.

“I have made significant improvements to my record keeping to ensure that all employees and any outside organisations can track the hours worked and wages paid to show that I comply with minimum wage legislation.”

Responding to the post, a member of the teenager’s family said she was “entitled to and had worked hard” for the money and had still to be paid.