A 15-year-old schoolgirl was left 'devastated' when her new coffee shop boss gave her a written warning 'for her acne'.
Trainee pot washer Emily McNamara thought her employer at Imposta Coffee was winding her up when she received a written warning on Facebook for 'unacceptable marks' on her neck - and realised she was referring to her pimples.
The top-of-the-class pupil was told that next time she had marks on her she would be sacked 'on the spot'. Seems rather harsh.
In a warning sent to Emily on Facebook messenger, manager Elicha Scott said: "I am writing to inform you that I was very concerned in your appearance and performance in work last week.
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"Coming into work with marks on your neck and under the influence of alcohol is unacceptable and will not be tolerated.
"I expect from now on that when you come into work you should be clean and presentable at all times."
She added: "Also you need to concentrate more as I noticed you had made alot [sic] of mistakes which ended in produce being overcooked and wasted.
"This can not [sic] happen as it will end in a waste of stock and loss of proffit [sic].
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"You need to be more responsible and use initiative, especially in busy times as the shop gets very busy, very quickly.
"This is a warning but as of the next time you will be sent home and terminated on the spot."
Emily, who has been bullied over her acne at school, was 'heartbroken' when she received the message and realised it was genuine.
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The message also claimed that she was hungover - despite the teen having spent the previous evening with her tee-total grandmother who drove her to work.
Emily had only worked 10 hours in her job as a pot washer at the Lancashire café when she received the reprimand and was so upset that she resigned.
The teen's mum, Tracey Yates, 33, was horrified when her daughter showed her the message and claims the comments about her acne have rocked Emily's confidence.
Tracey, from Accrington, Lancs, said: "I am gutted for her. When Emily got the message, she said this has to be a wind up.
"It was that shocking and the accusations were that ridiculous it didn't seem real. She's a hard worker. She's top of her class. She can't step a foot wrong."
Emily has been treated for acne for more than two years and takes both cream and tablets to combat her pimples, but has been bullied for it at school.
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Tracey continued: "She's been picked on before by children at school but this is an adult employer. I am gutted for her.
"Now Emily's questioning whether she's leaving the house looking presentable but I know for a fact that she is. It's affected her confidence. Emily takes a lot of pride in how she looks.
"It's taken her a long time to get her confidence back. She goes to great lengths to make sure that she looks good. It was devastating for her."
Referring to the claim that her daughter was hungover, she said: "This is accusing me of handing my 15-year-old daughter into work under the influence of alcohol. Anybody would think that that would not be acceptable.
"I know the owners and if they thought my daughter turned up under the influence of alcohol why let her work, why say it later and why not contact me? She was desperate to earn money, and now she's just scared."
Emily told her mum that the shift in question went well, but later revealed that she had been left unattended and burned a teacake.
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Emily was so shocked by the message from her employer that she instantly quit her job.
In her reply, Emily wrote: "I wasn't under any influence of any alcohol? And I am concerned as to why you are assuming that I was.
"I was with my Granny Friday night and Saturday morning! And the 'mark on my neck' you're referring to I'm assuming is either acne or dry skin, which I take daily medication for.
"Considering I was not confronted about this 'mark' at the time I am unable to clarify exactly what it was. I am clean and presentable at all times.
"I'm sorry if I made mistakes, but considering it was only my second week and I'm still learning, I don't see this as a major concern.
"I have been trying to use initiative and be responsible, but I've had minimal training and have done my best.
"Issuing warnings over Facebook I'm not comfortable with, and to be honest I'm not comfortable with your message at all.
"I won't be returning on Saturday or any Saturday there after [sic].
"Thank you for the opportunity and I hope you find a suitable candidate soon."
Both she and her mum were shocked by Elicha's decision to reprimand Emily over Facebook Messenger rather than speak to her during her shift.
Tracey said: "Acne has completely affected her life. She was picked on from day one in school.
"This isn't children at school, it's an employer. She didn't even have the decency to sit down and speak to her face to face, or speak to me. She's gone for Facebook."
When contacted for comment, Elicha said: "I have no response to anything other than I am in the right to issue a warning to a member of staff if there is concerns raised."
Featured Image Credit: Kennedy News and MediaTopics: acne, Warning, Community, UK