Worthing care home failed to pay minimum wage
But owner Bibi Jondah said any shortfall in wages was not done on purpose and was adamant staff had since received money owed to them.
Holly Spring Ltd, trading as Spring Lodge Residential Home, was one of 75 businesses on a list issued by the Department of Business, Innovation & Skills guilty of failing to pay staff the minimum wage.
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Hide AdIn total, Mrs Jondah neglected to pay £2,274.66 to 22 of her workers.
Speaking to the Herald, Mrs Jondah said that at one stage the home, in Madeira Avenue, Worthing, was only caring for three residents and because there was not enough work for staff to do during a 12 hour night shift they would often spend time sleeping.
As a result, she paid them a fixed rate of £60-a-night without informing HMRC of their correct hours.
She added: “I did not do it on purpose.”
Spring Lodge was Mrs Jondah’s first foray into care home ownership.
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Hide AdShe closed the business in December, following a damning Care Quality Commission inspection which ruled the home was inadequate.
“I’m a caring person but it didn’t work the way I wanted it to,” said Mrs Jondah. “I would never take anyone’s money.”
She added that she regretted taking on the business.