Permira employees on their annual week away were served up burgers at a five-star hotel on the request of the private equity firm's chairman Damon Buffini after one of them complained about the food.

Buffini asked for the burgers to be dished up for the high-paid workers, who were staying at the Pennyhill Park hotel in Surrey, and scolded them for failing to appreciate how lucky they were.

Permira declined to comment on the incident.