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

[Workcomplaintt]

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?

Filming makes it even worse. I absolutely would report this.

This. Or if you worked in engineering you would be banged out by your colleagues rapping hammers on tables. But covering people in eggs, four etc is not good. I'm surprised the management allow it and common sense says let's not cover X in crap.

Awful, name and shame the company, your son is a child, tying him up and filming by seniors, WTAF….

It's assault. Log it with the police. This is completely unacceptable. How would one of those Tradesmen like it, if their daughter's were tied up and humiliated? It would be a completely different story, if this happened to a woman. It shouldn't be a different story. Your son deserves justice. Protect his integrity and go to the police. Show him that this is not OK and it is not at all cowardly or embarrassing to stand up for yourself. Ask your son what he would do if it was his child - What would he do?

Imagine if this was a girl….absolutely would not be condoned. And should be no different for a boy.

We all know not to touch / film without consent now. No excuses.

And to the posters who think it’s harmless fun, you are seriously fucked.

I would thing anyone who placed apprenticeships there would want to know. Maybe let time pass, son move on to next thing then contact ? Local colleges to make them aware there is a cultural problem at that firm

Like so many others have said I think this is unacceptable

Once read of a court case where the factory owners allowed high pressure airguns to be used for stupid hazing. Some unfortunate victim had to have a colostomy as a result of their hence the court case. Hull County Court

https://www.google.com/search?q=court+case+high+pressure+air+gun+colostomy&client=ms-android-motorola-rvo3&hs=5FrV&sca_esv=281fd5caffd4d782&biw=411&bih=772&sxsrf=APpeQnsyEIg7V9c_0Fv4SXaMtXETjrFIXg%3A1787865652220&ei=NKqQaqaDDfeehbIP8Pzb6AU&oq=court+case+high+pressure+air+gun+colostomy&gs_lp=EhNtb2JpbGUtZ3dzLXdpei1zZXJwIipjb3VydCBjYXNlIGhpZ2ggcHJlc3N1cmUgYWlyIGd1biBjb2xvc3RvbXlIpkpQthhYy0VwAHgAkAEAmAHDAaAB8A2qAQQwLjExuAEDyAEA-AEBmAIIoAKuCsICCBAAGO8FGLADwgILEAAYiQUYogQYsAPCAgUQIRigAcICBRAhGJ8FwgIEECEYFcICBBAeGAqYAwCIBgGQBgSSBwMwLjigB_IUsgcDMC44uAeuCsIHBzAuNC4xLjPIByyACAE&sclient=mobile-gws-wiz-serp#lfId=ChxjMe

It happened in place ai used to work at in the early 2000s, you'd get covered in the slops from the pints behind the bar. As his Mum, I really wouldn't go and complain if I were you, I'd teach him to stand up for himself.

This is so messed up. Adult men tied up a child and assaulted him. Of course your son feels embarrassed but that doesn't mean the culprits should get away with it. Was your son sent the video that was made by the employers who attacked him? It should be sent to the police. Absolutely disgusting criminal behaviour and they should be fucking ashamed of themselves.

I worked on a farm in Scotland 35 years ago where you got a doing on your birthday, which involved getting dipped in a water trough and then getting whatever was to hand thrown at you (usually woodshavings, but could be eggs and flour if anyone was organised enough to remember to bring them). To be fair, we were all wearing boiler suits which the company was responsible for washing every week, and the people doing the dunking and throwing got as wet and filthy as the birthday person. Even the manager got a doing. The trick was not to let anyone know when your birthday was.

It's awful behaviour and totally unacceptable, but your sons wishes are more important. He may need a reference from them for future job so best not risk stirring it up for him with it being treated as a grievance made on his behalf.

That’s really weird…
I’d be contacting the police to make a formal complaint. It’s assault, and the fact that he was tied up (did you say?) and filmed makes it all the more sinister. Your son’s a minor, and I think you have to override his wishes on this occasion. Such a shame that his first experience of work, which he’d enjoyed, had to be tainted by such twattish behaviour.

Filming it??? You need to get the police involved. They've assaulted a child.

Are you joking? Who would want a reference from those idiots? Her son is 17 and needs guided and to know it isn't okay and this behaviour absolutely needs reported. At 17, I'd have said the same thing, but hope to god my parents would have sat me down and told me it is wrong, nothing to he embarrassed of, and made it clear it needed reported. I would have felt validated and heard. Op's son won't see these people again.

When things like this are swept under the carpet it leads to repeated behaviour and risk of escalation. The filming and the tying up take this above and beyond a simple work prank.

In the UK, for an employer to give a bad reference they must be able to prove any negative claims with evidence, like warning letters or disciplinary records. They can't give a former employee a bad reference just because someone complained about the former employee being assaulted.

Filming it! It just gets worse.

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.

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.

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.

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

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!!!

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.

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

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