Family, friends or neighbours and the minimum wage
The minimum wage, including the National Minimum Wage and National Living Wage, if family friends, and neighbours are working for you.
The minimum wage entitlement, including the National Minimum Wage and National Living Wage, for people in your family home or for friends or neighbours carrying out informal work for you will depend on the nature of your relationship with them.
If you are unsure about their minimum wage entitlement, you can by calling the Acas Helpline on Tel 0300 123 1100 (Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm).
Non-family members living and working within your family
If non-family members live in your family home, you do not need to pay them the minimum wage for work done in relation to your family household if they:
- share in the work and leisure activities of your household
- are treated as part of the family in respect of the provision of accommodation and meals and are not charged for these
Family members
The minimum wage does not need to be paid to members of your family who carry out work in relation to your family household if they:
- live at home
- share in the tasks and activities of your family, and the work is carried out in that context
The minimum wage does not need to be paid to workers who participate in the running of your family business, so long as they are members of your family and live in your home.
Friends and neighbours
The minimum wage does not need to be paid when jobs are done under informal arrangements between people where no contractual obligation is formed.
For example, someone who helps out a neighbour by doing the shopping and who receives a token payment in return is not entitled to the minimum wage unless there is a binding worker's contract.
Similarly, someone who cleans a neighbour's car on this basis cannot claim the minimum wage.