Furious with what happened to DS17 on his last day of work

Workcomplaintt · 2026-08-27T19:44:26+00:00

I have changed my name for this because posts on my normal account could give away the company involved. DS (17) had his final day of a part time job today. He knew it was always a short term contract and he really enjoyed working there, it was his first proper job. Upon picking him up today, he was absolutely covered head to toe in flour, eggs, milk and god knows what else. Apparently it’s tradition whenever someone leaves that they get tied up and humiliated by their colleagues. I could tell DS was shaken up, he said he didn’t know it was going to happen and he didn’t feel they’d listen if he asked them to stop. He took off what clothes he could before getting in my car but it’s in a right state. I am in two minds to turn up at the company tomorrow and give them a piece of my mind. I said as much to DS. He’s only 17 for goodness sake. He has asked me not to say anything to them. Would it be wrong of me to make an issue of this despite his wishes for me not to?

IAmNotMyJobTitle · 28/08/2026 22:16

If he’s upset and wants to report it then I would support him in that OP

ItWasCalledYellow · 28/08/2026 21:10

@DuckbilledSplatterPuff yes I totally agree I think the police would take this very seriously. It’s not funny at all and for it to be filmed is absolutely vile. The op DS must have felt such distress, the owner and others involved are animals.

DuckbilledSplatterPuff · 28/08/2026 17:06

Workcomplaintt · 28/08/2026 10:23

He is very upset this morning, I have decided that reporting to the company is pointless given one of the owners was partaking in what happened.

A friend has suggested a police report, which I am considering.

They tied him up, pelted him and the OWNER filmed him.
Actually I think the police would take that seriously
It must have been quite a pelting to have made so much mess of your car
I feel so sorry for your poor lad.
I would actually contact ACAS, because young people, particularly those under 18 should have the right to feel safe at work. Tying someone up is no joke.

Divinedownload · 28/08/2026 15:41

Nosleepforthismum · 27/08/2026 23:21

Your “brain dead” family members are, fortunately, not representative of all men in trades.

My DH has a construction company and would be horrified if this was done to any of his lads. It is absolutely gross misconduct.

Your poor son OP, I hope he’s okay.

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That’s why I didn’t say all of them. I know other trades men too and they are all of the same ilk, despite many making a lot of £. So much so, that, yes I was relieved when my son didn’t want to enter one.

tommyhoundmum · 28/08/2026 12:47

FiloPasty · 28/08/2026 09:45

This happened to me when I was leaving a part time job to go travelling, at the time I’d never heard of it as a tradition at all and I was devastated, I cried for about 2 hours afterwards. There was lots of “Oh, FiloPasty can’t take a joke etc” it was my last day at work, and I can still remember now just feeling totally humiliated, honestly like the scene in Carrie where she’s covered in blood.
To me if felt malicious, like they were trying to take me down a peg or two and I kicked off massively, complained to the owners and the other staff members were told off. I honestly still feel upset 30 years later thinking of it.

Yes, malicious.

Imdunfer · 28/08/2026 12:34

DarkchocolateAndtea · 28/08/2026 09:28

The main issue is what these grown men did to a 17year old boy. Tying up and filming is serious and not on the same scale as examples alot of posters provide. Complaining about transport and minimising what actually happened isn't the route to take at all.

Edited

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I wrote the post following an explanation by his mother that he begged her not to complain on his behalf. If she sticks with that then her options are to let it go or to complain on her own behalf.

PointlessMother · 28/08/2026 12:22

Workcomplaintt · 28/08/2026 10:23

He is very upset this morning, I have decided that reporting to the company is pointless given one of the owners was partaking in what happened.

A friend has suggested a police report, which I am considering.

Please, please do report this to the police. It's appalling and your son will be affected by it long term.

Shedsqueek · 28/08/2026 11:53

Thats assault.

DarkchocolateAndtea · 28/08/2026 10:58

Call 101 none emergency police:

When the Call Connects: An operator will answer and ask for details about the situation. Clearly explain what happened and state that you are unsure whether it requires police intervention. The operator will then act on their protocol, and take appropriate steps deciding what is necessary. They were really good in our case, and the operative gave advice on what is warranted. You then can give consent to their recommendation to go ahead ot not, and there is no harm done.

ItWasCalledYellow · 28/08/2026 10:50

Hi op, you 100% need to go to the police, this is assault, until people like the owner are held accountable nothing will change, maybe they will think twice about doing it to the next employee that leaves. I can image how distressed your poor DS must of felt. 😢

DarkchocolateAndtea · 28/08/2026 10:46

Workcomplaintt · 28/08/2026 10:23

He is very upset this morning, I have decided that reporting to the company is pointless given one of the owners was partaking in what happened.

A friend has suggested a police report, which I am considering.

Ring none emergency police op, your son will remember something like this incident; they can stay with you. However, knowing a complaint/query was made will validate his upset and help longterm I'm sure. Ringing none emergency police to query what happened isn't wasting police time. We did this for something we thought may be too minor, and it was triaged to a phonecall from a police officer and a file made against the individual. It helps.

Futurehappiness · 28/08/2026 10:39

Workcomplaintt · 28/08/2026 10:23

He is very upset this morning, I have decided that reporting to the company is pointless given one of the owners was partaking in what happened.

A friend has suggested a police report, which I am considering.

That one of the owners was participating in workplace bullying and potential criminal assault of a young person, is pretty much unforgivable. I agree with your friend and think you should consider reporting this to the police now. Employers like these need to be made to change their ways.

Original poster

Workcomplaintt · 28/08/2026 10:23

He is very upset this morning, I have decided that reporting to the company is pointless given one of the owners was partaking in what happened.

A friend has suggested a police report, which I am considering.

OP posts:

LilacReader · 28/08/2026 09:47

I do think you need to say something - but how much noise if up to you. If it was horrible for him, ask him if he would be happy for it to happen to another youngster. Poor sod x

FiloPasty · 28/08/2026 09:45

This happened to me when I was leaving a part time job to go travelling, at the time I’d never heard of it as a tradition at all and I was devastated, I cried for about 2 hours afterwards. There was lots of “Oh, FiloPasty can’t take a joke etc” it was my last day at work, and I can still remember now just feeling totally humiliated, honestly like the scene in Carrie where she’s covered in blood.
To me if felt malicious, like they were trying to take me down a peg or two and I kicked off massively, complained to the owners and the other staff members were told off. I honestly still feel upset 30 years later thinking of it.

tommyhoundmum · 28/08/2026 09:33

Bennybannsider2 · 27/08/2026 20:52

Hmmm. Did he really not know this was going to happen? If it was an actual stealth doing then I'd be annoyed yes. I would however expect the person getting the doing the speak up about it at the time. But it does sound like a bit of fun, the type of thing you expect in your last day at work before your wedding. In Northern Ireland (and I think Scotland) you get a "doing" which is being plastered in water, flour/eggs, mud anything like that in the run up to your wedding but it's good natured fun.

Not for the person on the receiving end

DarkchocolateAndtea · 28/08/2026 09:28

Imdunfer · 28/08/2026 09:19

I don't have the facility to search your previous posts. Can you please explain why?

If it means he can't get a job there in future, why would he want to work for a a bully with a bunch of bullies?

And why should this person just suck up having her car trashed?

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The main issue is what these grown men did to a 17year old boy. Tying up and filming is serious and not on the same scale as examples alot of posters provide. Complaining about transport and minimising what actually happened isn't the route to take at all.

katepilar · 28/08/2026 09:25

ExpectMore · 28/08/2026 04:41

@Workcomplaintt given is a tradition, he presumably knew it was coming and / or observed it happening to others.

it would be interesting to explore with him:

why he did nothing beforehand to make clear he didn’t want it. Presumably he could have spoken with his manager or hr
if he observed, and possibly participated, in it happening to others. If he did, and either didn’t raise it as an issue or even was part of it, it would lead to an interesting discussion…

perhaps these reasons are partly behind why he didn’t say anything about it and doesn’t want you to….: as he knew it was a possibility, didn’t do anything to actively manage the situation in the run up, and may even have been complicit in the same happening to others previously.

all good material for life lessons to be learnt that will benefit him going forward

OP said he didnt know anything about it.

Also, from what it looks like I doubt they would listen to him saying no.

PointlessMother · 28/08/2026 09:24

Workcomplaintt · 28/08/2026 06:40

He hasn’t seen it happen before - he was there for a matter of months and there wasn’t any turnover of staff. He had no idea it was to happen.

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It's assault. Needs reporting.

PondSurvey · 28/08/2026 09:24

I would speak to ACAS, that’s not acceptable

JudgeJ · 28/08/2026 09:23

BlackeyedSusan · 27/08/2026 20:46

Report to police and /or head office.

Because the police really have nothing better to do! Head office maybe if your son agrees although maybe he should be the one doing that, not his Mummy.

Imdunfer · 28/08/2026 09:19

DarkchocolateAndtea · 28/08/2026 09:13

Don't do this.

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I don't have the facility to search your previous posts. Can you please explain why?

If it means he can't get a job there in future, why would he want to work for a a bully with a bunch of bullies?

And why should this person just suck up having her car trashed?

DarkchocolateAndtea · 28/08/2026 09:13

Imdunfer · 28/08/2026 09:01

I would complain about this to the owner of company, but as an issue for transport providers. It's really not on.

"Did nobody consider the state my car was going to get in getting him home? How would he even have got home if he'd needed a bus or a taxi? I would also stress how he had taken it in good humour and it is you complaining, not him."

Edited

Don't do this.

DarkchocolateAndtea · 28/08/2026 09:12

@Wicked123 you'll need to create your own thread.

Wicked123 · 28/08/2026 09:10

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