Late worker pictured outside workplace with 'hilarious' placard causes online furore

A company has come under fire after an employee was spotted outside his workplace holding a sign saying “I was late for work. Honk if you think this is bad.”

Barrons of Beef Butchers, based in Bolton, UK, caused a Facebook stir when a teenager who works for the company was pictured standing outside with a placard hung around his neck. Many have since accused the business of bullying; however the employee in question insisted that it was his own idea.

Lewis Jeffrey explained in an interview with the Manchester Evening News that the prank was his idea, not that of his bosses, after he had turned up late two days in a row. He commented: “I come in when I’m needed and I really enjoy it.

“I was late yesterday because my alarm didn’t go off, and I was late again today and was really worried that I was going to get sacked because they’d think I was unreliable.