Gordon Ramsay Criticized for Laying Off 500 Employees During Coronavirus Crisis

Masterchef US celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay who is known for his hot-headed personality and expletive language skills has shocked his staff members with a brutal decision. Amid the Coronavirus crisis as the restauranteur shut down his eateries for an uncertain time period, he has laid off at least 500 of his employees without any prior notice.

“Such a shame to see how the company that you worked for and gave everything you had for 2 years throw you away like you are nothing but a little piece of [expletive] specially in difficult times like this even though they have absolutely nothing to lose by keeping you,” said Anca Torpuc, a chef at one of Ramsay’s restaurants, as she took the matter to social media.

“Staff from each of the restaurants were summoned to the Heddon Street restaurant where they were given the news. It was so awful and so many were in tears,” she added.

“And I’m not taking about one person here, over 500 people lost their jobs yesterday so all I can say is thank you @gordongram @gordonramsayrestaurants I hope you sleep well at night knowing that so many people doesn’t have a job in this difficult time because of you,” the staffer continued.

Anca called Ramsay’s decision brutal in these times of crisis as many struggle to fight for their livelihood across the globe. The Michelin star chef, albeit has given no guarantee for future, has told his employees that they will be paid up till April 7.

Taking it to Instagram, Ramsay also announced the closure of his restaurants which he maintained was an effort to focus on the health and safety of employees, guests, and community amid the pandemic.

“As the situation changes daily our focus has to be on the health and safety of our employees, guests, and community and to do our part in slowing the spread of the virus, all our restaurants will temporarily close,” wrote the 53-year old.

“Whilst we don’t know when we will re-open, what we do know is by supporting each other through this terribly challenging time, we will come through this stronger than ever! Huge love and thanks to our amazing staff across the restaurants for all their passion and support,” concluded Ramsay whose net worth is around £140 million.

Ramsay also slammed a restaurant critic on twitter who criticized the redundancies at his establishments.

Restaurant critic Marina O’Loughlin criticized the move on Twitter, saying: “Yet again, a day when multi-millionaires won’t put hands in pockets while the little guys doing everything they can for their staff. WHERE IS OUR LIST?”

And here is what Ramsay replied back in a series of tweets:

One of Ramsay’s chefs, 28-year-old Anca Torpuc, who worked at the Bread Street Kitchen branch as a chef de partie, took to social media to express her disappointment:

She wrote: “Such a shame to see how the company that you worked for and gave everything you had for 2 years throw you away like you are nothing but a little piece of s*** specially in difficult times like this even though they have absolutely nothing to lose by keeping you.

“And I’m not talking about one person here, over 500 people lost their jobs yesterday so all I can say is thank you @gordongram @gordonramsayrestaurants.

“I hope you sleep well at night knowing that so many people don’t have a job in this difficult time because of you”, she added.