Who is Simon Roberts; the Argos CEO as the company named as one failing to pay the minimum wage?

WH Smith, Marks & Spencer, and Argos were among over 200 companies that have been named for failing to pay the minimum wage and now face penalties reportedly totaling nearly £7 million, requiring the companies to reimburse workers for breaches that date back over a decade, as the Government have "named and shamed" those that have been found to have breached employment regulations.

"Paying the legal minimum wage is non-negotiable and all businesses, whatever their size, should know better than to short-change hard-working staff," said Kevin Hollinrake, minister for enterprise, markets and small business in a quote obtained by both the BBC and Sky News this morning.

The breaches affected around 63,000 workers, most of whom were left "out of pocket" between 2017 and 2019. WH Smith emerged as the worst offender, failing to pay over £1 million to more than 17,600 workers. Their failure to reimburse staff for specific coloured trousers, skirts, and shoes, which were required as part of their uniform policy, was cited as the cause of the breach. Lloyds Pharmacy followed closely behind, having failed to pay over £903,000 to 7,916 workers. Unfortunately, no additional information was available regarding their specific circumstances.

The companies have defended their actions, claiming that these breaches were unintentional and were swiftly remedied; the exact amount they paid in fines is unknown, although the government stated that penalties can be as high as 200% of the arrears owed. Despite being named the worst offender, WH Smith clarified that this was a genuine error and that it was rectified in 2019 with all colleagues being reimbursed.

The breaches have seemed to indicate long-term issues with wage compliance and the effectiveness of monitoring and enforcement systems within these companies. It is unclear why these problems persisted for such a prolonged period, suggesting a potential lack of comprehensive policies or procedures to ensure compliance with the minimum wage requirements.

Who is Simon Roberts?

Simon Roberts is a prominent figure in the retail industry, known for his leadership and strategic acumen. He serves as the CEO of Sainsbury's, one of the largest supermarket chains in the United Kingdom, which took over Argos on September 2, 2016 as part of the company’s plan to have a further reach in the retail industry. 

Before joining Sainsbury's, Roberts made a name for himself as director of retail at Boots, where he played a key role in driving business growth and developing customer-centric strategies, and a stint at Marks & Spencer. He held the position of Executive Director of Marketing and International, where he was responsible for overseeing the company's marketing initiatives and international expansion plans.

Roberts joined Sainsbury's in July 2017 as the Chief Operating Officer before taking on the role of CEO in June 2020. During his tenure as COO, he played a pivotal role in streamlining operations, enhancing efficiency, and driving customer satisfaction. His focus on improving the shopping experience and embracing technological advancements has helped Sainsbury's stay competitive in a rapidly evolving market.

Unsurprisingly, given his business acumen, his net worth in 2023 is said to be between $20 to $30 million USD, and though we don’t know if that wealth is shared among any children, as his family life isn’t a matter of public record, we do know that he is married to Helen Roberts and that York was the last location on record where they lived.