A former labourer who alleges he was urinated on as a 15-year-old apprentice has spoken out about what he describes as a 'toxic' culture within the construction industry. Now working as a support worker, the ex-tradie claims that the mistreatment of apprentices by older tradesmen is appalling yet has become normalised over time.
Normalised Abuse
'You get all these older tradies that are so f***ed,' Mr Wallison said. 'All the tradies say "Oh, it's how I was treated as an apprentice", but that doesn't mean it's right. They wonder why there's a lack of apprentices now, but it's because the way they're treated is f***ed.' While acknowledging that some bosses are good, he noted that the line between banter and bullying has blurred. 'There's a difference between banter and actual bullying, to a point where it can psychologically affect the person,' he explained.
Personal Experience
Mr Wallison told the Daily Mail he entered the industry at 15 and suffered daily abuse from colleagues. He worked as an apprentice for two years and as a labourer for three, during which his mental health deteriorated. 'I dealt with a lot of abuse, I was constantly getting yelled at every day. I actually got urinated on by a colleague on the roof one time. It was a very toxic environment.' Like many young apprentices, he did not report the incidents. 'I didn't report it because I was so young. Others don't because they're either scared to lose their job or are scared of being treated worse.'
Public Reaction
Aussies were quick to sympathise with Mr Wallison's experience. One commented, 'During my apprenticeship, I was spoken to and treated like s***. I love the point you make, saying that there's a difference between banter and bullying because there is.' Another said, 'You're not wrong mate, 27 years as a tradie and my mental health is cooked.' A third recalled, 'I got empty stubbles thrown at me and lit cigarettes flicked in my face to name a few.' A fourth added, 'Bosses and older people know they can manipulate younger people new to the trade and probably love the power trip.'
However, some argued it depends on the employer. 'It depends who you work for and how good you are,' one person said. 'During my apprenticeship, I never got yelled at or bullied, just worked on my trade and got signed off as a third year.' Another agreed, 'It really just depends on who you work for. It's a great industry, builds a lot of character and teaches you quite a lot on and off the site.' A third commented, 'Saying trades are the worst industry for young men's mental health is a stretch. Every industry has pressure, corporate burnout, healthcare stress, tech layoffs, small business debt.'
Expert Opinion
Indeed workplace psychologist Amanda Gordon acknowledged that some industries have a greater impact on mental health than others. 'I think starting a new career can be difficult and tradies often start very young. Some tradies are really supported and are helped in the workplace they're in while others are taken advantage of and paid really poorly. One of the things that is most likely to be stressful as a tradie is if there's a culture of masculinity and you're not that person. It could also be a strain if it's something everyone in your family always did but it wasn't your thing. However, if you get through the early years, it can turn out to be wonderful.'
