Update: Rick Stein restaurant group responds to claims it won't be paying staff beyond March 21st
Chef left feeling 'like a piece of s**t' after Gordon Ramsay group terminates 500 contracts
Craig Millar: the government 'let us down' by ordering us to close at the same time as London restaurants
‘We said we would stand together with the British people and we meant it’
Following the temporary closure of his 12 London restaurants as a result of the coronavirus outbreak, yesterday, Gordon Ramsay's restaurant group laid off more than 500 employees.
Hospitality has been one of the hardest hit by the coronavirus outbreak, as a wave of uncertainty was followed by a decisive order to shut down all restaurants, bars and cafes around the country, with groups like the Gordon Ramsay Group left having to make difficult decisions.
But while some have given money out of their own pocket to ensure staff got paid - and, for the time being, remained in employment - others were quick to discontinue swathes of their workforce.
Among those who were called in to receive the news that they would be placed on garden leave until April 17th, after which their contracts would be terminated indefinitely - with no guarantee that they would be guaranteed a job in the group when restaurants re-open at an as-of-yet unspecified date.
Chef Anca Toropu, who worked at Bread Street Kitchen for two years took to social media to deplore the group's decision, saying that it was "such a shame" to have been put in such a situation, to be discarded " like you are nothing but a little piece of s**t."
She added: "specially (sic) in difficult times like this even though thay have absolutely nothing to lose by keeping you."
"And I'm not taking about one person here, over 500 people lost their jobs yesterday so all I can say is thank you."
Others in the industry have suffered a similar fate. Today, it emerged that Rick Stein would not be paying employees across his restaurant group past March 21st, leaving them with no income pending the government's salary compensation scheme, due to come into effect at the end of April.
We have reached out to the Gordon Ramsay Restaurants group for comment and will update this piece if a company representative comes forward with a response.
How many restaurants does Gordon Ramsay Own?
According to his company website, Gordon Ramsay has 58 restaurants.
In London alone, there are 12 bars and restaurants owned by Gordon Ramsay.
Some of these include the three Michelin-starred Restaurant Gordon Ramsay, Chelsea; the one Michelin-starred Pétrus by Gordon Ramsay in Knightsbridge; and the Savoy Grill - Gordon Ramsay, which previously held one Michelin star.
Gordon Ramsay has or currently owns restaurants in Scotland, Dubai, the US, France, Japan, Canada, Ireland, Qatar, Australia, Italy, Hong Kong, Singapore, the Czech Republic and South Africa.
Do you work for the Gordon Ramsay Restaurants group, has your contract been terminated and would you like to share your side of the story? Please get in touch if you'd like to comment.
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Chef left feeling 'like a piece of s**t' after Gordon Ramsay group terminates 500 contracts
Update: Rick Stein restaurant group responds to claims it won't be paying staff beyond March 21st
Craig Millar: the government 'let us down' by ordering us to close at the same time as London restaurants
‘We said we would stand together with the British people and we meant it’
