Star chef Jamie Oliver is the latest multi-millionaire who is taking flak for using the British taxpayer’s money to furlough his staff as the economic situation worsens for everyone around the globe.
The Jamie Oliver Group announced that it has furloughed one-sixth of its entire workforce – 20 employees including chefs who taught culinary lessons at the Jamie Oliver cookery school. This is to take advantage of the British government’s policy to provide 80% of the wage for workers earning £30,000 or less.
The company said all workers who have been working from their homes are receiving their full salary. In an interview with the Sun, the company also said that it will set all wages at or below £30,000 so that everyone could receive the government fund.
The news has infuriated taxpayers as Jamie Oliver is known to be worth £240 million, or $300 million. This is after he has experienced severe financial failure, including all the restaurants in the UK closing down. Although there are restaurants that bear his name at Gatwick Airport, they are operated by another company.
Early last year, Oliver had purchased a large mansion in Essex for his wife and five children. First built in the 16th century, the mansion was purchased by the chef for a hefty £6 million, or $7.5 million. The family also owns a mansion that is worth almost £9 million ($11 million) in Northern London.
The company justified their actions as preparing to return straight back to normal as soon as the pandemic subsides. However, many have pointed how he has not put any of his money into helping his workers.
Oliver is not the only British millionaire who has irked the British taxpayers. British businessman Peter Jones was known to have furloughed 400 of employees although he was worth £490 million ($610 million).
Global celebrities have also been in the crosshair of taxpayers who lament how the rich are trying to benefit off a global pandemic. Victoria Beckham was the most high-profile of the bunch, when she furloughed 25 staff members despite a net family worth of £335 million ($417 million).
A few have received praise for refusing to furlough people who have worked for them. Musician Ed Sheeran was one of them, as we have written about here.
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Replaced!