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Audi apprentice in Reading - comments from coroner - what are your thoughts?

Clare

Hi all, you may have seen this story, this link is for the BBC version: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-berkshire-40052026

Whilst I would agree there were several contributing factors to this young man's untimely death I do find it surprising that the company was not found to be negligent in any way despite - amongst other factors - evidence from the boy's PC plus the burns witnessed by his parents.  And Audi are curiously silent, I have yet to read any comments which might help to restore their credibility as a responsible employer. 

This tragic case contrasts the case of another youngster who was bullied by his workmates, two of whom were found guilty in a court case, link for the case if you are unfamiliar: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-york-north-yorkshire-36522872

I would be interested to hear other views on the very sad Audi case.  It has made a very sad end to my week.

Parents
  • Hi Clare,

    I'm not going to delve into the details on this one as Keith and David have (as ever!) covered it all, but I feel the need to write a post as my family have been heavily involved in the motor trade for decades upon decades now.

    (Before I start typing, I don't mean for any of my opinions here to infer that I agree with the way this young man was allegedly treated)

    Whether we think it is *right* or not, different industries have different cultures and behaviours. The motor trade, in particular (as David has also pointed out) has a deep rooted culture of 'banter', practical jokes, mickey taking and general horseplay. Clearly the Management teams at Sytner (the difference is relevant, let's not ignore the fact that the media pack much more punch with Audi in the headlines as opposed to the Sytner Group which the average Joe Bloggs may not have heard of) do have a responsibility to make sure things are safe, clean, and as under control as they can, but it is unfair to expect them to a) have eyes in the back of their heads and b) conform to 'corporate' cultures that we would perhaps all perceive to be normal/correct/acceptable. Some of the stories I have heard about 'the good old days' have been well and truly shocking from an HR point of view, but generally there is little offence/upset. In my personal experience, on the odd occasion where someone goes too far, they are told swiftly (and not always politely!), apologies are normally given, and everyone cracks on with their day. The article states that Mr Cheese had referred to the incidents as 'banter' - if we consider this in an office environment, if an employee was experiencing pranks/mickey taking and so on, but reported it to their LM/Parents/HR dept as 'banter', I am not sure we would be able to say that it would be treated as 'neglect'.

    I think there are too many external factors (that indeed we are not fully aware of) at play, that mean it's incredibly hard to pin blame/make claims about right and wrong, and so on. Equally, I think it's important we note the differences between the two cases, including but not limited to; 'religion' being cited as the main reason for the bullying in Case 2, no reference to external factors/a series of life events/a history of depression/failure to take medication etc.

    This is much more of a 'heart' post that a 'head' one if I'm totally honest with myself, but I was quite literally raised within the motor trade!

    Apologies for the waffle,
    Catherine
  • in reply to Catherine
    I work in the automotive industry and was nodding my head as I read your post Catherine. I do think things have improved - some of the tales our managers tell about what they were subjected to when they were apprentices are eye opening to say the least but there is still an ingrained culture of banter and practical jokes.

    I suspect I only hear about the incidents where something has gone wrong - someone getting burned after staff were chucking oxy-acetylene bombs at each other for example, but I suspect that I get to hear about 5% of what actually goes on
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  • in reply to Catherine
    I work in the automotive industry and was nodding my head as I read your post Catherine. I do think things have improved - some of the tales our managers tell about what they were subjected to when they were apprentices are eye opening to say the least but there is still an ingrained culture of banter and practical jokes.

    I suspect I only hear about the incidents where something has gone wrong - someone getting burned after staff were chucking oxy-acetylene bombs at each other for example, but I suspect that I get to hear about 5% of what actually goes on
Children
  • in reply to Emma
    I too am nodding my head at your post Emma! By 'things haven't changed' I meant the culture and behavioural norms, not the 'severity' of the pranks and jokes that happen, apologies, there is no doubt that things have improved over the years (although who knows how many apprentices have been dunked in sewage tanks across the UK of late!) in the same way that all industries and practices have improved due to technology, better knowledge and communication, health and safety, and so on.

    Putting our HR hats back on, I think it's great that you get told about anything at all, 5% is better than 0%. I shan't comment on the O-A bombs - sometimes you really do have to wonder what people are thinking :)