Minimum Wage Compliance | Technology Closing the Payroll Deductions Gap with Wendy Muirhead

Payroll compliance isn't about hitting the minimum wage threshold on paper, it's about understanding what deductions, benefits, and statutory calculations actually mean in law.

In this episode of @thepayrollpodcast, Nick Day, CEO of JGA Recruitment, sits down with Wendy Muirhead, co-founder of Fair Work Solutions, about the technology closing compliance gaps that catch thousands of UK employers off-guard, triggering fines, arrears, and reputational damage. Discover how payroll professionals can move from assumption-based compliance to accuracy-first operations.

The conversation also dives deep into what the new Fair Work Agency means for payroll and HR leaders, why National Minimum Wage should be treated as a board-level business risk rather than a payroll-only problem, and how proactive compliance can actually elevate payroll's standing within an organization. It also highlights the true cost of getting it wrong, including 200 percent fines, six-figure settlements, and a public place on the government's Name and Shame list.

It is not just a rate check.

It is not just a payroll problem.

It is a business-wide compliance risk.

Wendy shares how her own frustration working inside major payroll organizations, combined with the investigative expertise of co-founder Jenny Morris, led her to build a platform designed to give every payroll leader total visibility over their National Minimum Wage exposure. Whether you are confident in your current compliance or have never closely examined the calculations behind it, this episode will change how you think about what "above minimum wage" actually means.

This episode is sponsored by Deel

Managing a global team is complex, Deel makes it simpler with payroll, HR, IT, and compliance all in one place. That's why over 35,000 businesses trust Deel to hire, pay, and manage their teams worldwide.

See how Deel works at www.deel.com/nickday

Guest and Host:

Connect with Wendy Muirhead: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wendymuirhead0980/

Learn more about Fair Work Solutions: https://www.fairworksolutions.co.uk/

Connect with Nick Day: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickday/

Find your ideal candidate with our job vacancy system: https://jgarecruitment.ck.page/919cf6b9ea

Sign up to our newsletter: https://jgarecruitment.ck.page/23e7b153e7

Stay tuned for the next episode of The Payroll Podcast, brought to you by Nick Day, CEO at JGA Recruitment, landing soon!

Enjoyed this? Check out our sister podcast @thehrldpodcast for more great content!

Timestamps:

(00:01) Introduction: The Minimum Wage Compliance Trap

(01:29) What Does Payroll Mean to Wendy Muirhead?

(02:38) Why Wendy Left Corporate Payroll to Found Fair Work Solutions

(09:08) Building Fair Work Solutions with Jenny Morris

(11:28) The Biggest Misconception About Minimum Wage Compliance

(13:53) The Data Governance Problem Behind NMW Risk

(15:51) The Nurse in the Car Park: Why NMW Is More Than a Rate Check

(17:28) Why Payroll Software Alone Can't Fix Minimum Wage Risk

(20:27) Inside the Name and Shame List and the Cost of Non-Compliance

(22:48) Minimum Wage, Maximum Clarity: What Compliance Should Look Like

(27:19) Turning Compliance Into a Board-Level Opportunity

(30:50) Final Takeaways and Where to Learn More