Staff at a trouble-hit Angus caf were the subject of a ‘gagging clause’ preventing them from speaking about the shop’s £148 million lottery winning owner.
The Courier can reveal that multi-millionaire Gillian Bayford asked workers to sign a confidentiality agreement as part of their zero hours contract at the Sugar and Spice premises near Arbroath harbour.
Mrs Bayford and the busy caf have been thrust into the spotlight after it shut last week due to “unforeseen circumstances”, with 21 staff now out of a job.
There have been suggestions that Mrs Bayford may be intending to re-open the caf when she returns from a planned Indian Ocean holiday.
One worker said the closure “came out of the blue”.
“There was a confidentiality clause in the contract so people are worried about speaking out,” they said.
“We don’t know what the unforeseen circumstances are but we feel used because we built up the business and now she has thrown us on the scrapheap.
“We always went the extra mile and if it wasn’t for us that place wouldn’t be running.”
The worker said Mrs Bayford got her personal assistant to phone staff last week with the bad news rather than do it in person.
“We saw Mrs Bayford very rarely and she never acknowledged the staff when she turned up. She should have told us face-to-face that was the least we deserved. If there were problems why didn’t she organise a staff meeting so we could discuss them?”
The 43-year-old lottery winner has said staff will receive payouts following the sudden closure.
Mrs Bayford was unavailable for comment.Gift voucher holders seek assurancesPeople with gift vouchers for Sugar and Spice on Arbroath High Street are worried they could be left out of pocket.
Moira Horan from Arbroath received a £20 voucher as a Christmas gift from her son.
She said: “The voucher was for £20 with an expiry date of December 2016.I got it from my son and my husband would have used it too.
“I’m very disappointed at the fast closure. It’s sad to see it go as it’s been part of the community for several years.
“I was looking forward to having a high tea as they have always been excellent value.
“I am quite sure that along with myself, many people will have lost out with vouchers which were received as gifts.”