Pictured: Former Spadeoak managing director Dave Dawe
A ‘bitter’ ex-managing director hijacked his replacement’s public welcome with a rant about his ‘back stabbing’ former colleagues after he was sacked over ‘offensive’ WhatsApp banter.
Dave Dawe claims he had a 35-year ‘blemish-free record’ at asphalt surfacing specialists Spadeoak before getting the boot over ‘mum-friendly’ content posted in a work WhatsApp group.
When the firm’s parent company Aggregate Industries UK welcomed the new MD, Victoria Smith, on LinkedIn, Mr Dawe wished her luck – and bemoaned how he was ‘sent packing’ by ‘cowardly’ colleagues, labelling some staff ‘experienced burger flippers’ and ‘jealous pen pushers’ who ‘crawled out of the sewer’.
Mr Dawe became the managing director of the ex-family business in September 2009 after 25 years of working for the company, according to his LinkedIn profile.
He started as Operations and Commercial Director in October 1985, before moving on to the Deputy Managing Director position in September 2004.
Mr Dawe said he is ‘looking forward to [his] tribunal’, and takes fire at the company’s bonus policies and recruitment decisions.
He tells Ms Smith to look forward to the ‘integrity’ of the firm who he says ‘try to get rid of you when your face no longer fits’.
His rant was shared on Twitter where it went quickly viral as hundreds of social media users debated whether Dave was just ‘bitter’ or right to air his grievances so publicly.
Some took pity on Spadeoak and said they could ‘see why they got rid of Dave now’ – while other users proclaimed the former MD was their ‘hero’ for getting it off his chest.
In the back-handed welcome he wishes his replacement Victoria Smith luck by telling her to look forward to the ‘integrity’ of the firm who he says ‘try to get rid of you when your face no longer fits’
Pictured: Aggregate Industries welcoming Spadeoak’s new managing director Victoria Smith
Spadeoak claim to be one of the UK’s leading names in asphalt surfacing, whose projects include sports stadiums, retail parks and even the Royal Household.
The businessman told reporters he’s chosen to ‘zip [it] for now’ ahead of his tribunal and Aggregate Industries have since claimed they ‘take ethics and integrity very seriously’.
Mr Dawe, from London, said in his rant: ‘All the best and good luck, Victoria.
‘Just look forward to the integrity, support… massive annual pay rises of anything up to one per cent, bonuses diminished by whatever excuses can be dreamt up, and most importantly the back-stabbing, cowardly* sneaky… devious methods that, in my opinion, they will use to try and get rid of you on the cheap when your face no longer fits.
‘Have happy times at Spadeoak. I certainly did with a great team, whilst multiplying the bottom line by a factor of six over ten years.
‘Until jealous pen pushers and experienced burger flipper managers and similarly qualified staff… crawled out of their sewers to spread their deadly seed.
‘They […] chose to get all goody goody regarding a work person WhatsApp group in which the guys were having vanilla fun in lockdown.
‘Content that consisted of what most mums would laugh at, was deemed so shocking and potentially offensive that after 35 years and a blemish-free record, I was sent packing.
‘I look forward to my tribunal. Enjoy!’
Aggregate Industries quickly disabled comments on the post after spotting Mr Dawe’s rant – and the whole welcome has since been deleted.
The welcome message had said: ‘We are pleased to announce the appointment of Victoria Smith as the new managing director for Spadeoak, our specialist contracting business.’
Mr Dawe’s disgruntled post had already been shared on Twitter, where it has since gained more than 2,000 likes and comments.
David Pierrie commented: ‘Is this one of those posts you’re supposed to write but then delete – not send??? #SchoolBoyError.’
Pictured: Social media reaction to Dave Dawe’s post about ‘backstabbing’ colleagues
Another user called Taxman1964 joked: ‘Is it a public tribunal? I’d love to attend and see Dave Dawe in action.’
Wayne Caffrey joked: ‘Dave, may all your rants be of a similar vein.’
Timothy P added: ‘Oh, to know what was in that WhatsApp chat.’
Michael Quinn wrote: ‘Magnificent drop the mic from Dave.’
User Paul said: ‘I like Dave. Dave’s sarcastic and angry. Although he lost me at vanilla fun. That either sounds sinister or like a Wall’s ice cream swingers club?’
Farra521 said: ‘At least Dave’s now got it off his chest.’
Dan Jones added: ‘Go on Dave boy. Don’t hold back.’
A Spadeoak representative said: ‘Our company takes ethics and integrity very seriously and we pride ourselves in our approach to health and safety and mental health.
‘Due to the nature of the issue we cannot further comment on the case.’