Business owner: Raising wages would be a 'nightmare' The head of the CBI, which represents businesses, has claimed that too many companies are keeping their staff in minimum wage jobs. John Cridland said that employees should be given better pay and more opportunities as the economy recovers. However Tony Callaghan, who runs a chain of pubs, clubs and hotels, believes raising wages would be a "nightmare" for his business. He told BBC Radio 5 live's Chris Warburton: "We've had no option but to pay the minimum wage when it goes up... but we've not been in a position whereby we can increase wages."