Page 8 | 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?

ThirdStorm · 28/08/2026 08:29

I'd write to the owners and tell them what happened. Whilst I'm normally never supportive of parents getting involved, this crosses a line and is not ok in the modern workplace.

Jaichangecentfoisdenom · 28/08/2026 08:30

BagpipeBoss · 27/08/2026 22:46

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.

All those here saying it's "just a bit of fun" are clearly still living in the Seventies. It wasn't funny then and it's not funny now. Much like Benny Hill.

Futurehappiness · 28/08/2026 08:36

covilha · 27/08/2026 21:10

So, as he is under 18 then he is still a child. A child who has been physically assaulted and mentally degraded by a group of adults.
to me, this is a safeguarding red flag.
Hiven his age, his employer has a duty of care
Way back in the day there was a very well paying local employer where the girls were rumoured to treat brides to be like this. Even by the standards of those days I thought it was vile.
I thought all of this behaviour had been phased out

Edited

This. I don't really agree with those telling the OP that she should not get involved because her DS has asked her not to; he is only 17 and it should really not be up to him to make decisions about this.

This is potentially criminal assault and battery, possibly also false imprisonment (the tying up). I think it also meets the definition of workplace bullying as defined by ACAS.

I would consider this a serious incident, and no responsible workplace should be tolerating this behaviour. It is a blatant breach of the employer's duty of care towards a young worker. I would also not want a young person in their first job to think that this is the kind of treatment they should expect in the world of work or that this is in any way acceptable. It is disheartening that so many posters seem to have experienced this kind of 'pranking' themselves or to justify it.

BunnyLake · 28/08/2026 08:38

I would explain to my son it’s important to report it. Even if not for him but for others. Someone could have an egg allergy or just find the whole thing mortifying/unacceptable (like your son). It can’t surely be legal. How would your son have got home if you hadn’t picked him up? Imagine having to get a train home! I’m raging here for you both.

They tied him up? Bloody hell. No it should not go unreported. This is a crime.

Squeeky112 · 28/08/2026 08:38

I'm torn on this one. On one hand, reporting to the company will do nothing, and the police may seem over the top.
On the other, they tied up and assaulted a child (in the eyes of the law, a 17 year old is a child for safeguarding purposes). I think the police should be notified. They probably have a long list of issues with the idiots who run the company and it might be a good reason for them to have a word and deal with them.
However, there could well be come back against your son, which you really really don't want. Hence it's a tricky one.

I know some posters are saying a 17 year old should stick up for themselves and it's not assault, but just think... a bunch of older stronger men (trades) physically ganged up on him, tied him up, and then assaulted him. They had all the power. There was nothing he could have done. If that was a teenage girl, would your view be different? If so, your view is wrong.

Raspbellies · 28/08/2026 08:39

I would contact police non emergency and head office. They can't just get away assaulting people. I wish I'd prosecuted a company / manager that did something to me as a youngster but after the initial police chat (who were lovely) I didn't take it further.

Maybe pop it up on trip advisor to publicly humiliate the company.

PussyGaylore · 28/08/2026 08:40

If he has said he doesn’t want it reported then you should respect that.

HoraceCope · 28/08/2026 08:40

i got dunked in water in a factory i worked in 40 years ago
i cannot believe this kind of thing still goes on
how very juvenile

friedaklein · 28/08/2026 08:42

Remember when women were harassed in the workplace and told ' it just means you are well-liked?".
Thought we had moved past that.

HoraceCope · 28/08/2026 08:42

i wouldnt do anything
he doesnt want you to
and even if he did it would be his battle
unwise to complain

BunnyLake · 28/08/2026 08:42

Squeeky112 · 28/08/2026 08:38

I'm torn on this one. On one hand, reporting to the company will do nothing, and the police may seem over the top.
On the other, they tied up and assaulted a child (in the eyes of the law, a 17 year old is a child for safeguarding purposes). I think the police should be notified. They probably have a long list of issues with the idiots who run the company and it might be a good reason for them to have a word and deal with them.
However, there could well be come back against your son, which you really really don't want. Hence it's a tricky one.

I know some posters are saying a 17 year old should stick up for themselves and it's not assault, but just think... a bunch of older stronger men (trades) physically ganged up on him, tied him up, and then assaulted him. They had all the power. There was nothing he could have done. If that was a teenage girl, would your view be different? If so, your view is wrong.

Would they have said a 17 yr old girl should stick up for themselves, no they bloody wouldn’t. How dare they think the onus is on him.

BunnyLake · 28/08/2026 08:43

HoraceCope · 28/08/2026 08:42

i wouldnt do anything
he doesnt want you to
and even if he did it would be his battle
unwise to complain

Why is it unwise?

HoraceCope · 28/08/2026 08:43

he was old enough to work there so hardly considered a child.

knackeredmumoftwo · 28/08/2026 08:45

So I am 50 so sold enough to rent when this sort of thing was normal and encouraged- I would tread carefully as is he likely to work for them again or anyone who the owner knows - ie is in a trade / supplier etc as this could massively backfire longer term - given that the owner filmed it and obviously supported it then I'm not sure doing anything will do anything

im not saying that it's ok but a few of us have been subjected to similar situations let alone initiations to football / rugby clubs especially at Uni

id play it as an eye opening experience and one to try to avoid but also being aware of what the culture and people are like in that sort of organisation

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."

Wicked123 · 28/08/2026 09:06

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Wicked123 · 28/08/2026 09:10

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DarkchocolateAndtea · 28/08/2026 09:12

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

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.

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?

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.

PondSurvey · 28/08/2026 09:24

I would speak to ACAS, that’s not acceptable

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.

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.

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?

Edited

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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.