[LeatherTrumpet]

AN estate agent has been sacked after his boss saw a video of him grabbing
Prof Chris Whitty around the neck.


The boxing enthusiast Hughes apologised through The Sun and said: “I’ve paid
the price with my job.”

He told how the friends had been on an anti-vax march in London on Sunday
when they spotted Prof Whitty, 55, at about 3pm in St James’s Park.

Hughes, who worked for Caplen Estates Agents, admitted having a couple of
drinks first.

He said: “I absolutely apologise for any upset I caused.


“If I made him feel uncomfortable, which it does look like I did, then I am
sorry to him for that.

“He is quite a timid, shy person and I think that is why he didn’t say, ‘Get off
me’. If he had said that and I had realised how he felt, I wouldn’t have put
my arm round him.

“I feel very let down by Boris, for him to call me a thug. I actually voted for
him as well.

https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/154484...yob-loses-job/

Should he have lost his job?

[parmnion]

100 percent yes.

He accosted/assaulted a middle aged man.

[Livia]

Good. He should have paid somehow and if it's with his job, so be it.

[Toy Soldier]

“He is quite a timid, shy person and I think that is why he didn’t say, ‘Get off
me’. If he had said that and I had realised how he felt, I wouldn’t have put
my arm round him.

“I feel very let down by Boris, for him to call me a thug. I actually voted for
him as well."

Excuses and zero remorse, so if there was ever any doubt, that pretty much puts an end to it.

[Niamh.]

Originally Posted by Toy Soldier

Excuses and zero remorse, so if there was ever any doubt, that pretty much puts an end to it.

Yes agree. It's a bit like a "Sorry if you were offended" type of an apology

[bitontheslide]

in non covid times it would have been bad enough, but there isnt a person on the planet that now knows to keep distance. "Can I take a selfie with you" would have been the normal request surely. Personally, i think they thought it would be edgy to their pals by getting the poor guy in a headlock

[Toy Soldier]

Originally Posted by Niamh.

Yes agree. It's a bit like a "Sorry if you were offended" type of an apology

The "Well yes he seemed really uncomfortable but he didn't actually SAY to stop so I didn't and that's fine" is a bit concerning as well

[LeatherTrumpet]

But he was not working at the time so I guess the question is can an employer sack you for things you do at weekends that are not criminal?

if they see you on tv at a football match singing the ref is a wanker for example

[arista]

Yes Anti Vax Punk

No one wants him

[bitontheslide]

Originally Posted by LeatherTrumpet

But he was not working at the time so I guess the question is can an employer sack you for things you do at weekends that are not criminal?

if they see you on tv at a football match singing the ref is a wanker for example

they usually have a clause that prohibits damaging the company name, which is a giant catch all for things such as this

[Toy Soldier]

Originally Posted by LeatherTrumpet

But he was not working at the time so I guess the question is can an employer sack you for things you do at weekends that are not criminal?

if they see you on tv at a football match singing the ref is a wanker for example

Depends on the severity - singing "the ref is a wanker" probably not. Shouting racist slurs, yes.

There's also a difference between being spotted on TV doing something in the background, and deliberately recording and uploading yourself doing something. Like I'd say if someone else records you drunk off your face taking a piss down an alleyway then firing would be harsh. If you film YOURSELF pissing in public and stick it on YouTube... well then yes you're probably going to face some consequences if you work in a professional environment.

[Niamh.]

Originally Posted by Toy Soldier

The "Well yes he seemed really uncomfortable but he didn't actually SAY to stop so I didn't and that's fine" is a bit concerning as well

Yeah, I hope somebody teaches this guy about consent :/

[Jake.]

Good.

[Fetch The Bolt Cutters]

Electric chair

[LeatherTrumpet]

Originally Posted by Toy Soldier

Depends on the severity - singing "the ref is a wanker" probably not. Shouting racist slurs, yes.

There's also a difference between being spotted on TV doing something in the background, and deliberately recording and uploading yourself doing something. Like I'd say if someone else records you drunk off your face taking a piss down an alleyway then firing would be harsh. If you film YOURSELF pissing in public and stick it on YouTube... well then yes you're probably going to face some consequences if you work in a professional environment.

i think the kicker was it got on TV

[joeysteele]

I do agree he should actually.
It was both unnecessary and clearly intimidating behaviour.

[The Slim Reaper]

Most professional contracts will have some clause in there about acting as a representative of the company, purely to protect themselves against issues like this. it's a fair firing.

[Toy Soldier]

Originally Posted by joeysteele

I do agree he should actually.
It was both unnecessary and clearly intimidating behaviour.

I think that's the issue really; it was bullying behaviour against someone who was clearly very uncomfortable, they knew what they were doing but thought "the laughs" were worth his discomfort, and again zero remorse afterwards and essentially decided to blame him for not being clear enough that he didn't like it. I mean... look at his face and body language ffs .

[smudgie]

Good for them for sacking him.
Poor little lamb is upset at Boris for calling him a thug...well, diddums.

[Dogeatdog]

It’s a bit of a pathetic apology really. Actions have consequences and for what he did he should be punished and even if that means losing his job.

[hijaxers]

Yes he deserved to lose his job , i wouldn't want to employ someone who behaves like that as a representitve of the company ,especially as his involes meeting members of general public and pretty much everyone has seen the video.

[Mitchell]

Yes, and legal proceedings.

[Toy Soldier]

Originally Posted by Mitchell

Yes, and legal proceedings.

In this case I think it would be hard to argue that he represents any clear danger to the public so the police wouldn't pursue this on their own; the victim (Chris Whitty) would have to ask for it to be pursued and he's already said that he's not going to.

[GoldHeart]

Yeah no sympathy

I was just thinking how irritating it was in NON Covid times even when news reporters get grabbed without consent.And harassed,usually by either football hooligans or idiots wanting camera time.

So in COVID times it just makes this even worse, to behave in such a ridiculous manner. And invading personal space.

[UserSince2005]

Lock it up and when it is released ban it from zone 1