Teenage Audi mechanic committed suicide after bullying
Discussion
Does it give specific details about him being placed in a cage and set on fire? We all mucked about with aerosol brake cleaner from time to time...
The saddest part is that the Dad has to live with the fact he ignored his son on the day he needed him the most. That is heartbreaking. The story says other factors were involved, such as the relationship with his girlfriend etc.
An ex-manager at a flagship dealership I worked at probably initiated one of the harshest accounts of bullying in the work place I've ever seen. The mechanic booked his own car in for an MOT and gave 4 out of 5 for the customer satisfaction. He was branded a terrorist by the manager in the morning meeting and he told everyone to avoid him. I was the only one who helped him push in a 2-tonne piece of metal as he had a non-start job.
The saddest part is that the Dad has to live with the fact he ignored his son on the day he needed him the most. That is heartbreaking. The story says other factors were involved, such as the relationship with his girlfriend etc.
An ex-manager at a flagship dealership I worked at probably initiated one of the harshest accounts of bullying in the work place I've ever seen. The mechanic booked his own car in for an MOT and gave 4 out of 5 for the customer satisfaction. He was branded a terrorist by the manager in the morning meeting and he told everyone to avoid him. I was the only one who helped him push in a 2-tonne piece of metal as he had a non-start job.
imagineifyeswill said:
When I served my time 40 years ago there was always lots of taking the piss out of the apprentice but it was mainly confined to being sent on useless errands, long stand, skyhooks, left handed screwdrivers etc, the worst we ever did was connect the spark tester upto someones toolbox and press the test button when the went to pick up a spanner. Spraying someone with the pressure washer or setting them on fire would have been instant dismissal.
My experience, as well. Mostly piss taking and usually unimaginative stuff. Some places had some nasty rituals, but they were dying out fairly quickly. It's pretty shocking that anyone thinks this sort of s
t is in any way funny or justified.I had a couple of instances when younger, it is horrible, you feel very alone, I had a boss at North West Water who was very demeaning, rude and cruel, I took advice and the next time he treated me badly I asked him if he wanted to perhaps rephrase it in a way that would not mean he fell foul of company policy, he was taken aback and was a lot more pleasant to deal with afterwards, he tried it again one day, half in jest and one look was enough, utter fanny of the highest order.
I had a line manager at another place who made my life a misery, every day, taking the piss, slagging my work off, treating me like st, went on for months, I tried his boss to no avail, a bigger than he was, he used to tell me what a hard bd he was, actually just a fat tosser who still lived with his parents, I just snapped and offered him out, after a little fronting, he started crying, eh apologised and told me his life was a mess, no girlfriend, depressed, I suggested a visit to his GP and Amsterdam, he did both, much nicer bloke after Prozac and prostitutes, cant believe the misery that bloke put me through, dreading going in work, wasnt a kid either, I was 26 and two kids of my own.
I abhor bullying but, if someone opens that line of communication, anything is fair game, you reap what you sow in life, and karma is a bh so best to treat people with respect, whoever they are, whatever background they are form, whatever they look like, whatever age, it really isnt hard.
I had a line manager at another place who made my life a misery, every day, taking the piss, slagging my work off, treating me like s
t, went on for months, I tried his boss to no avail, a bigger than he was, he used to tell me what a hard bd he was, actually just a fat tosser who still lived with his parents, I just snapped and offered him out, after a little fronting, he started crying, eh apologised and told me his life was a mess, no girlfriend, depressed, I suggested a visit to his GP and Amsterdam, he did both, much nicer bloke after Prozac and prostitutes, cant believe the misery that bloke put me through, dreading going in work, wasnt a kid either, I was 26 and two kids of my own.I abhor bullying but, if someone opens that line of communication, anything is fair game, you reap what you sow in life, and karma is a b
h so best to treat people with respect, whoever they are, whatever background they are form, whatever they look like, whatever age, it really isnt hard.J4CKO said:
s3fella said:
Willy Nilly said:
What will Audi UK have to say about this?
Initally they will offer nothing, but after badgering them, they will offer 50% off the fire extinguisher as a goodwill payment. If the lad was on the official Audi apprenticeship program, this is /was run by a external contractor.
It was ReMit and then Emtec when I worked for them.
Learner welfare and anti bullying was always a high priority in my job carrying out monthly site visit to see and assess learner's NVQ stuff and check on them.
I really am shocked that this got so far without being identified.
When I was an apprentice it was quite common CPR a hobby lad to get his balls greased or to have the broom stick put through his overall sleeves and hung on an engine crane but setting someone on fire is well OTT.
A workshop is always full of piss takers and practical jokers though, so the new guy need to develop a thick skin quite quickly.
Surprised a large dealer group wouldn't have policies around bullying. Even more surprised that then/current employees and managers have basically admitted to it happening.
In my line of work that level of bullying would see the perpetrators dismissed and if aware managers as well. Friendly "joshing" is something that happens in many industries but management does have a responsibility to ensure it never progresses beyond that.
In my line of work that level of bullying would see the perpetrators dismissed and if aware managers as well. Friendly "joshing" is something that happens in many industries but management does have a responsibility to ensure it never progresses beyond that.
I've seen some horrible stuff happen to apprentices (apprentii?) over the years when I worked in dealerships including young lads having fingers wire brushed and boiler suit sleeves being set on fire. None of that ever happened to me or the perpetrator would have been smacked in the mouth with a ratchet. It's one thing having a laugh sending someone to get a tin of sparks for the grinder but when you start physically assaulting someone you should expect to get the same back. I have my own shop now and have taken on 3 apprentices in the past year. I had to let one go because he had neither the head or the hands for the job and kept breaking things. The other two are a pleasure to work with. They don't know everything, they're just beginners, but I will go out of my way every time to help them and show them things and if they aren't sure they know they can come and ask. One of them was having problems with his parents so I brought him to stay with me and the wife for a few weeks until he got a deposit to rent a flat. We've just helped the other one get his first car on the road. If you nurture them at this early stage, you will have smart, reliable, loyal techs. If you treat them like crap, they'll grow up to be cynical assholes. If you bully them, well, look what happened this young guy.
Jazzy Jag said:
J4CKO said:
s3fella said:
Willy Nilly said:
What will Audi UK have to say about this?
Initally they will offer nothing, but after badgering them, they will offer 50% off the fire extinguisher as a goodwill payment. If the lad was on the official Audi apprenticeship program, this is /was run by a external contractor.
It was ReMit and then Emtec when I worked for them.
Learner welfare and anti bullying was always a high priority in my job carrying out monthly site visit to see and assess learner's NVQ stuff and check on them.
I really am shocked that this got so far without being identified.
When I was an apprentice it was quite common CPR a hobby lad to get his balls greased or to have the broom stick put through his overall sleeves and hung on an engine crane but setting someone on fire is well OTT.
A workshop is always full of piss takers and practical jokers though, so the new guy need to develop a thick skin quite quickly.[/qWtfx10 "Balls greased"?
Wtf?
Did female employees get fingered too?
Wtfx10 who sexually assaults someone for a joke?
b0rk said:
Surprised a large dealer group wouldn't have policies around bullying. Even more surprised that then/current employees and managers have basically admitted to it happening.
In my line of work that level of bullying would see the perpetrators dismissed and if aware managers as well. Friendly "joshing" is something that happens in many industries but management does have a responsibility to ensure it never progresses beyond that.
I was an apprentice in the 60s and a lot of what would now be called bullying went on. I was on the receiving end a few times. However, it was policed by the apprentices themselves and I was 'rescued' once by a senior apprentice - about the first time he'd spoken to me - who really tore into the two journeymen who were having a go at me. The journeymen were generally good natured in their g-ups, so much nicer sounding than bullying, and the mickey takes sort of built relationships. I was sent for a 'long weight' when I had 18mnts in. I mean, pick your time. So I went out for a walk around London.In my line of work that level of bullying would see the perpetrators dismissed and if aware managers as well. Friendly "joshing" is something that happens in many industries but management does have a responsibility to ensure it never progresses beyond that.
My dad, in the same trade, had warned me of what might happen and had told me to tell my boss if it went too far in my opinion. It never did but one chap, of mixed race, was picked on and a senior apprentice went to the floor manager on his behalf. It wasn't so much how serious it was, just that it was constant. The manager, an imposing chap who frightened me a bit (really quite ugly), was nicknamed 'The Nut' so that made things worse. I found out later that he was as soft as wet tissue, and took it on himself to sort the journeymen out. And did.
I thought that sort of stuff had ended with PC and litigation. I would assume that if this is proved the company and some managers, will take a hit. And quite rightly.
SpeedMattersNot said:
It's not just the motor trade, it's most of the trades to be honest. I served as an apprentice but I was always able to look after myself, growing up ginger has its perks, but the other apprentice suffered badly. Multiple counts of physical and emotional bullying on a daily basis and from me, too. He took it on the chin well...
But if it was known he had a mental illness that changes everything.
What a horrible But if it was known he had a mental illness that changes everything.
you are then? Genuine wtf at you admitting this
i really hope people stop using this branch to show contempt.
i really feel sorry for his dad, it is hard knowing the difference between the end of the world and a minor teenage issue. and he has to live with the fact when his son needed help he wasn't listening.
i really feel sorry for his dad, it is hard knowing the difference between the end of the world and a minor teenage issue. and he has to live with the fact when his son needed help he wasn't listening.
Edited by The Spruce goose on Thursday 25th May 08:30
That makes for seriously unpleasant reading, but to be honest, the bit that most shocked me was the father not even bothering to pause the golf to talk to his lad when he obviously knew he'd got serious enough issues to be on drugs and seeking counselling, and had already persuaded him not to resign from the job.
I might not be the perfect parent at all times, but how can you just be so absolutely blind to one of your own kids suffering like that?
I might not be the perfect parent at all times, but how can you just be so absolutely blind to one of your own kids suffering like that?
As an apprentice in a garage in the late 70's it was par for the course that you got picked on. Sent for long waits, skyhooks, family way toffees from the shop etc. There was always one who went too far, greasing my bks and then throwing oil grit on them, but the worst was when they welded my steel toe capped boots to the bench, with me still wearing them.
But you learnt that most of it was pranks, not meant to harm and we got on and after you became useful it stopped. Our boss allowed so much but things like the boot incident was too far and people got in trouble.
What I learnt was to get my own back, filling a tool box with cement dust, swapping a marked spanner with the two biggest meat heads boxes so they think each other is a thief.
In this case, it seems that there was no horseplay, it was just evil bullying of a clearly venerable young man. I think his state of mind was not robust and his relationship breakdown had a lot to do with it, but the level of abuse would easily push him over the edge.
I suspect criminal or civil action will follow
ks and then throwing oil grit on them, but the worst was when they welded my steel toe capped boots to the bench, with me still wearing them.But you learnt that most of it was pranks, not meant to harm and we got on and after you became useful it stopped. Our boss allowed so much but things like the boot incident was too far and people got in trouble.
What I learnt was to get my own back, filling a tool box with cement dust, swapping a marked spanner with the two biggest meat heads boxes so they think each other is a thief.
In this case, it seems that there was no horseplay, it was just evil bullying of a clearly venerable young man. I think his state of mind was not robust and his relationship breakdown had a lot to do with it, but the level of abuse would easily push him over the edge.
I suspect criminal or civil action will follow
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