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

Technically it is assault, so it would be perfectly reasonable to report it to the police. People have been arrested and prosecuted for doing similar.

It’s hard to imagine people get away with this shit. Good your son is out of there

I worked in KFC as a student (almost 30 years ago) and that was commonplace. On my last day I was given the chance of escape by guessing heads or tails. Luckily I guessed right - I still remember how I scarpered out of there scared they would change their mind! 😱

This is not a bit of fun. This is actually gross misconduct. Anyway I have ever worked, you would be dismissed for this type of behaviour. It’s not the 1970’s anymore.

Ffs idiots.

Ignore anyone saying it’s normal and “do not report” I’d go in tomorrow and raise hell and demand for this to be escalated.

@Workcomplaintt

I think you should respect your son’s wishes and not say anything to the company but definitely use it as a learning opportunity to discuss with him how some habits and traditions in the working world are inappropriate and awful.

He should aim to become one of those workers and in time managers who don’t turn around and say it’s my turn to humiliate the younger team members but someone who respects and looks after their colleagues.

They used to do that at a restaurant where I had a summer job 20y ago. By some miracle they didn’t do it to me, I was super shy and a bit stuck up so I think they knew I would just be mortified.

Poor lad. I’d go fucking mental. They must have quickly realised that he was massively uncomfortable, unless they’re all psychopaths. I could never join in such humiliation of anyone, let alone a kid.

Not surprised. A lot of them are brain dead in the trades, and before anyone starts, I include family members in the above evaluation. They would probably find that hilarious, except it really isn’t.

I have a 16 year old who thankfully does not want to enter a trade. I hate the culture of them, despite the earning potential.

It’s not a police matter! MN classic.

Honestly - I don't get some of these replies. There's having a bit of a laugh - and taking it too far. This is a workplace. Would any of us be happy if this happened to us? I know I wouldn't. Not only is it unpleasant - it could give someone severe anxiety. Where do you draw the line on what's acceptable.

Can't believe they battered him.

If he does need to get a reference he can tell them why it won't be a good one . Because he reported this into police . Can you imagine reading this in a newspaper. It's not your son that would look bad and even if the company was influencial who is going to want to have anything to do with them now .
But for now , calm down , talk it through and then decide with his input what you think should be done.

That’s not ‘tradition’, that’s assault. Your DS didn’t consent, he was tied up, and he was humiliated. That’s not banter, that’s a safeguarding issue, especially when he’s 17.

I completely understand why you’re furious. I would be too. But I also get why he doesn’t want you to go storming in; he’s young, embarrassed, and just wants it over with.

You don’t need to make a big dramatic scene, but you can calmly raise it with the company without causing fallout for him. A simple email saying you’re concerned about what happened, that he didn’t consent, and that you want reassurance this won’t happen to other young staff.

If they’re doing this to every leaver, it’s only a matter of time before someone gets hurt.

You’d be well within your rights to report it but you can choose the tone. It doesn’t have to be confrontational.

The issue isn’t the job ending. It’s the fact they tied up a minor and threw food at him

This actually happened to me when I was leaving a job at 17 also! And the sod of it was that I had to go out to my leaving drinks with raw egg in my hair! (no one cared much about ID when I was younger)

I think it's a bit of a relic of a tradition so I can only assume he worked with people older than him?

I think you have to take your sons lead on this in terms of whether to take it further or not. But you are absolutely not unreasonable for being pissed off about it! X

I agree. They can't be allowed to get away with it.
Fuck their reference!

I know this is a strong and probably unpopular opinion, but what happened to your son is not a harmless workplace tradition. It is illegal. Tying someone up and throwing substances at them counts as assault, battery and false imprisonment under UK law. Because he is 17, it also falls under safeguarding responsibilities that the employer is legally required to uphold.

People might try to frame it as banter or a rite of passage, but none of that changes the fact that he did not consent and was physically restrained. That is a criminal act. You would not be unreasonable for wanting to raise it, even if he feels uncomfortable about it.

Er, what ? If that wax my ds17 I couldnot stay quiet. He is a minor. Id call HR tomorrow report it. How many other kids?
Appaulling. Nobody would humiliate my son and get away with it!!!

Then it needs reporting to the police. Your son was assaulted at work. By his boss and co workers. Appalling

I mean I’ve sent a newbie off to search for a left handed screwdriver before. But this is next level. And given his age especially I would raise it
with someone. If it is a chain probably head
office.

I was agreeing with those who have said that it's shit but best not to get involved....but somehow it being filmed feels like another level. Was the video posted anywhere?

Is your son OK now?

FWIW I deal with tradesmen a lot and none of them would do this to a teenager, if only because they've had the same training from HR that all the desk staff get.

Whilst I normally think you should let DC handle work themselves and follow their lead, since he’s still a minor and this is criminal behaviour, I would step in despite his protests.

Since the company owner was involved, I’d go straight to the police. My one caveat would be if DS was likely to want to go into this line of work and the company is influential. In which case I’d be more hesitant.

Filming it! It just gets worse.