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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

The Bin man who was sacked for kicking the head off the Snowman.....

405 replies

TheQueef · 31/01/2021 13:27

Would you have reported?
I'm not a fan of reporting for reporting sake so this has shocked me.
Just what outcome was expected by sending footage to his bosses?

YABU = he deserves to lose his job.
YANBU = it's batshit he kicked a snowman.

Soz if there has been a thread already.

OP posts:
LApprentiSorcier · 31/01/2021 15:51

@TwelvePaws

lWeird how many handmaidens out and about today to support a violent thug. I wonder how many are first time posters.

Yes, it seems very strange that so many people on here, presumably many of which are parents, are repeatedly defending the actions of a thug. 🧐 Who would argue to have this person near to your home every week or two?

I'm not defending anything this man has done, but what's the alternative to him doing council agency work? Should we put him in prison and throw away the key? Leave him on the dole (so he can hang around wherever he likes for as long as he likes kicking in snowmen)? Surely it's better for him to be in work, doing something useful, bringing in a wage to support his partner and the child that's on the way?
LuaDipa · 31/01/2021 15:51

@gannett

Going out of your way to try to make someone lose their livelihood is a far more despicable act than kicking a snowman.

What this boils down to is that some people absolutely need to feel that others, especially in service industries, are beneath them and at their mercy. It's a contemptible way to think.

Absolute rubbish.

My colleagues are all highly paid professionals. If they were seen kicking a kid’s snowman to bits in front of our office and we received a complaint they would be made to apologise immediately, and given a good talking to about bringing the company in to disrepute. I should point out that like most people in the country they would be very unlikely to do such a pointless thing.

Professional behaviour is expected across the board in our company and this was childish and ridiculous, not to mention he should have been too busy actually doing his job to be pratting about like that. This would be taken extreme seriously by our leaders. This man not only behaved in a destructive manner, whilst easily identifiable as an employee of his company, he then refused to apologise. I think had he done so willingly he may have kept his job.

And I would like to reiterate, again, that the parents had absolutely no idea that he would lose his job when they reported him. They most likely just wanted him to think before needlessly upsetting small children.

NailsNeedDoing · 31/01/2021 15:52

Why do you think aggressive, unprofessional people deserve to keep jobs when unemployment is high?

Goodbye2020Hello2021 · 31/01/2021 15:54

Also, yes, I would have reported it.
Not because he damaged 'property' (he didn't) but because he showed total lack of respect for the homeowner's environment and because his employers need to know what an immature little t*sser he is.

Moondust001 · 31/01/2021 15:54

I’d agree with him being sacked for those violent offences.
I don’t agree with him being sacked for kicking snow.

He WASN'T sacked. For anything. The agency are completely at liberty to place him elsewhere if they can find someone stupid enough to employ a violent thug who has had his face and crimes plastered all over the national press.

And I'd lay bets that he was not sent back to the agency for "kicking snow". That's HIS version of events. And I am sure it is totally and entirely truthful...Not.

supersop60 · 31/01/2021 15:54

Don't go to the beach - he'll be jumping all over your sandcastle.

Norwayreally · 31/01/2021 15:55

He has anger issues. I know it’s only a snowman but he didn’t just kick it once, he bizarrely went back and started kicking the shit out of it. It’s weird behaviour for a fully grown adult isn’t it? He seemed to have a lot of pent up rage.

If you read the article and read what he was convicted of last year you realise he isn’t a very nice man.

Goodbye2020Hello2021 · 31/01/2021 15:55

Going out of your way to try to make someone lose their livelihood is a far more despicable act than kicking a snowman.

What a load of rubbish. His actions speak for themselves.

willFOURbagsbeenough · 31/01/2021 15:55

but what's the alternative to him doing council agency work? Should we put him in prison and throw away the key? Leave him on the dole (so he can hang around wherever he likes for as long as he likes kicking in snowmen)? Surely it's better for him to be in work, doing something useful, bringing in a wage to support his partner and the child that's on the way?

Perhaps he could teach Kung fu?

Eleganz · 31/01/2021 15:56

@LakeGeneva

I'll presume you are correct that that is the case in Hereford (it appears the local council use FCC Env for their collections, but no info on how they choose to employ staff). It isn't the case in my area and refuse collectors are council employees (I know one personally).

However, it is totally irrelevant as there is always a contract in place and that contract will have clauses in that cover this stuff. You might not like that but that is the legal way of it.

Whether the council is a client or employer it is entirely reasonable for them to expect any contractor (or anyone appointed by the contractor) or staff member to deliver the services require to the standard required. End of story. This idea that because the council aren't directly employing the guy means they have to let him do what he likes is just bogus and not how any client contractor relationship works.

willFOURbagsbeenough · 31/01/2021 15:57

The people saying he was sacked for kicking a snowman are conveniently ignoring the fact that when spoken to about it he swore at his employer and refused to apologise. I suspect that had more to do with him not being given more work with the council.

LittleSilverBird · 31/01/2021 15:58

The guy was at work. Doesnt matter that he is a bin man, he was at work and needs to display a professional standard. What he did want professional. He was meant to be working but stood there kicking the thing to pieces. If you do that on work time, whilst dressed for work and next to your work vehicle, then you are doing it whilst representing your employer and they dont want that sort of representation.

Ita. What a total knob!

Goodbye2020Hello2021 · 31/01/2021 15:58

@willFOURbagsbeenough

The people saying he was sacked for kicking a snowman are conveniently ignoring the fact that when spoken to about it he swore at his employer and refused to apologise. I suspect that had more to do with him not being given more work with the council.
Exactly this.
Eleganz · 31/01/2021 15:58

I'm not defending anything this man has done, but what's the alternative to him doing council agency work? Should we put him in prison and throw away the key? Leave him on the dole (so he can hang around wherever he likes for as long as he likes kicking in snowmen)? Surely it's better for him to be in work, doing something useful, bringing in a wage to support his partner and the child that's on the way?

Perhaps he should have thought about that before acting in a way that was not acceptable. Clearly him having a job wasn't keeping him out of trouble.

Oldraver · 31/01/2021 16:01

I think he was an arse for kicking the snowman and whoever reported him was also an arse. Had he been sacked for it then I think that isnt fair (unless there were other things to take into account

But not being called back if he was on agency is fair game. Ive been an agency worker for years and I am amazed at some of the poor behaviour and work ethic of some agency workers. They seem to think they dont have to be on their best behaviour

Ponoka7 · 31/01/2021 16:03

@LakeGeneva, of course they can, that's how agency work, works. All big events are Staffed by agency workers, as are social care roles. There's codes of conduct which you are briefed on and are sometimes put in writing, that you have to follow. My DD's and their friends all work on agency on top of their regular jobs.

"Why do you think aggressive, unprofessional people deserve to keep jobs when unemployment is high?"

^that, there's decent teenagers desperate for work, who would make the most of the opportunity.

Goodbye2020Hello2021 · 31/01/2021 16:04

Should we put him in prison and throw away the key? Leave him on the dole (so he can hang around wherever he likes for as long as he likes kicking in snowmen)? Surely it's better for him to be in work, doing something useful, bringing in a wage to support his partner and the child that's on the way?

It's society's responsibility to keep him off the streets and in a job is it? No matter how he chooses to behave?
He had work and he threw away the chance of more work.
He obviously doesn't care that much does he?
Should he take no responsibility for this?

Skipsurvey · 31/01/2021 16:06

the parents of the 3 year old should not have reported him,

MsPeachh · 31/01/2021 16:06

I wouldn’t have reported personally, but there’s definitely more to this story. Perhaps she felt alarmed by the aggressiveness of it. The “hands down his trackie bottoms” pic isn’t painting him in the best light!

LakeGeneva · 31/01/2021 16:06

@Eleganz I'm not saying that workers can do as they please. But it is hypocritical in the extreme to contract out work while simultaneously expecting workers to uphold standards of an employer that refuses to employ them.

Plus this is just arbitrary media pleasing shite. Which costs the council literally nothing and makes them look like the good guys (for upholding the rights of snowmen?) while all the time we are glossing over the fact that there are posts that are permanently needed, all year every year, that are being fulfilled by workers who have no employment protections and who can be and are indeed deprived of livelihood on the sayso of a tabloid, even though the work they do is categorised as essential.

MissMarpleDarling · 31/01/2021 16:07

Its ridiculous they should give him his job back. He kicked snow.

lockeddownandcrazy · 31/01/2021 16:07

@Goodbye2020Hello2021

Going out of your way to try to make someone lose their livelihood is a far more despicable act than kicking a snowman.

What a load of rubbish. His actions speak for themselves.

Totally this - plenty of decent people will be happy to have a steady job on the bins, far more deserving than this obnoxious twit.
LakeGeneva · 31/01/2021 16:10

a steady job on the bins,

Not that steady a job though is it?

LApprentiSorcier · 31/01/2021 16:10

It's society's responsibility to keep him off the streets and in a job is it?No matter how he chooses to behave?He had work and he threw away the chance of more work. He obviously doesn't care that much does he? Should he take no responsibility for this?

I don't see where 'society' comes into it. He already had a job. He kicked the head off a snowman - a stupid thing to do, yes, but probably not something he thought he'd be sacked for.

davidsSchitt · 31/01/2021 16:12

"Am a bit disappointed his fellow crewmen didn’t stop him"

Well if you watched the video it appears after he punched the head off his supervisor ran over and had words with him. Only after did he lose his temper and carry on.

He's an angry, violent thug. And you want them to intervene?

He's the one responsible for his actions.

@LakeGeneva they absolutely can expect a certain level of conduct and behaviour from agency staff. Why wouldn't they? And waste collection isn't an agency job in my area!

If a school uses an agency supply teacher is it ok for her to ignore the schools code of conduct and, say, turn up to work in a bikini, or chain smoke in the playground?