Celebrity chef, George Calombaris, admits underpaying employees
By Judy Evans
@JudyEv (325759)
Rockingham, Australia
July 22, 2019 4:20am CST
A scandal erupted in Australia last week when a high-profile chef, George Calombaris, admitted to underpaying employees at his restaurants by $7.8 million. The deception has been going on for a few years and over 500 current and former employees have been involved. His hospitality group has now backpaid wages and superannuation which I suppose is something. His group of companies has also been fined $200,000 over the underpayments.
Since the scandal broke, Tourism WA (Western Australia) has cancelled Calombaris’ contract to feature in advertisements in a campaign to ‘Create Your Own Gourmet Escape in WA’. The ads have been appearing on the hit television show MasterChef, which features Calombaris as one of three judges.
I find it disgusting that this celebrity chef would be earning a huge amount but thinks it is okay to steal from his employees. I hope karma gets him. Or maybe karma already has.
The photo is of a gourmet entree we had once.
28 people like this
27 responses
@DWDavis (25812)
• Pikeville, North Carolina
22 Jul 19
@JohnRoberts Bernie wants Soviet-style socialism for you and me, but not for himself and the 1%. He is a hypocrite through and through.
3 people like this
@JohnRoberts (109857)
• Los Angeles, California
22 Jul 19
A big revelation over the weekend were Bernie Sanders campaign employees complaining he doesn't pay the $15 minimum wage he supports and average $13 an hour over their 60 hour work weeks. The response to their asking for pay raise is reduced hours. Seems true and it is a fact he did become a millionaire with a fancy new house following his last campaign....
3 people like this
@xFiacre (12595)
• Ireland
22 Jul 19
@judyev Shame on him. Pity he hadn't read (and taken heed of) what the prophet Malachi wrote, "“So I will come to put you on trial. I will be quick to testify against sorcerers, adulterers and perjurers, against those WHO DEFRAUD LABOURERS OF THEIR WAGES, who oppress the widows and the fatherless, and deprive the foreigners among you of justice, but do not fear me,” says the Lord Almighty.
4 people like this
@xFiacre (12595)
• Ireland
23 Jul 19
@JudyEv Yes. I quite liked it a few years ago when the cash office of my employer noticed a mistake in my pay and made it good with a one-off payment that took me on a trip that I wouldn’t have gone on otherwise. I was grateful for that mistake!
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (325759)
• Rockingham, Australia
23 Jul 19
At least he has sufficient funds to make good what he owes to his employees.
@JohnRoberts (109857)
• Los Angeles, California
22 Jul 19
It probably happens more frequently than you think.
3 people like this
@DocAndersen (54413)
• United States
22 Jul 19
wow, there have been a couple of these lawsuits in the US. Glad to see one reached the end!!!
2 people like this
@snowy22315 (169937)
• United States
22 Jul 19
Alot of celebrity chefs think they are "all that" when in reality they are just glorified cooks.
1 person likes this
@snowy22315 (169937)
• United States
23 Jul 19
@JudyEv My personal un favorite is Gordon Ramsay, a narcisscist if there ever was one!
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (325759)
• Rockingham, Australia
24 Jul 19
@snowy22315 Isn't he awful? And the language! I don't really mind a bit of bad language but not on a cooking show by someone who's supposed to be so crash-hot. And he is so rude to his staff although to be honest I think I've only ever watched one or two of his shows. I couldn't stand the guy.
1 person likes this
@lovinangelsinstead21 (36850)
• Pamplona, Spain
26 Jul 19
Working in Hotels you can get underpaid but his is not a good recipe at all.
Robbing peter to pay paul kind of attitude not nice no is what I say.
1 person likes this
@lovinangelsinstead21 (36850)
• Pamplona, Spain
26 Jul 19
@JudyEv
Probably so full of his own ego does not see the needs of others rough guess from me.
1 person likes this
@crazyhorseladycx (39515)
• United States
22 Jul 19
i'm glad he got caught'n 'tis facin' punishment. i dunno why these folks (those with $$) think they can get by with such, jest coz they'd be a celebrity :( my hopes? folks boycott all he's be 'nvolved with 'n he winds'p penniless... yes ma'am, i'm feelin' a tad vindictive today.
1 person likes this
@crazyhorseladycx (39515)
• United States
23 Jul 19
@JudyEv aint'cha heard, ms. judy? such 'lways happens to 'other folk' 's they'd be smarter'n to get caught. unfortunately that'd be a mindset that spreads like wildfire. i do hope he loses that job'n the cookin' show, though they might not've found a loophole to end the contract yet.
1 person likes this
@Tampa_girl7 (48929)
• United States
23 Jul 19
He should be ashamed. What a wicked thing to do.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (325759)
• Rockingham, Australia
24 Jul 19
I think it is wicked too. I just hope he gets dumped by the TV station.
@JudyEv (325759)
• Rockingham, Australia
23 Jul 19
It certainly seems to, doesn't it? At least the company had enough to pay back all the money he owed.
