Supercheap Auto faces backlash after worker from viral video stood down

Aussies are threatening to boycott Supercheap Auto after a worker was stood down, even though many think he was in the right.

Supercheap Auto has come under fire for reportedly standing down an employee who was filmed fighting over a pram with a woman he claimed was shoplifting.

In a viral video taken outside a Gold Coast store, a staff member could be seen trying to grab a pram covered with a blanket.

He accused the woman with the pram of stealing from the store and threatened to call the police, as the woman screamed “let my baby go”.

After they both struggled to take control of the pram, a box was knocked to the ground from under the blanket and the woman said: “You can have the f***ing rotor mate.”

The Supercheap Auto employee believed the woman was shoplifting and tried to stop her. Picture: TikTok / @lizhuson01

Gold Coast Bulletin revealed the employee had been stood down last week while the incident was being reviewed, despite the video attracting lots of praise for the worker on social media.

Police confirmed to news.com.au on Monday the incident had still not been reported.

Now, Supercheap Auto is facing criticism.

Autobarn Burleigh Heads owner Michael Farrar told the publication the man who was stood down was the type of employee he was looking for.

“His actions showed to me that he is a loyal person and someone we would want on our team,” he said, adding that his store had about $15,000 worth of items stolen in the last two years.

Supercheap Auto are undertaking an internal review of the incident but police say no report has been made to them. Picture: TikTok

Journalist Ben Fordham said “no way in the world” the worker should have been stood down.

“This guy was doing his job by saying you’re not going to pinch that from the store,” he said speaking on Today Extra.

“I’ve had people calling in on my radio show saying they’d offer him a job. They would give him a pay rise or a promotion,” he added.

Australians also took to social media to make their feelings known, some saying they would boycott the business.

“Supercheap Auto needs to reinstate the worker and prosecute the shoplifter. It’s not good enough to stand down an employee protecting your business,” one person wrote.

“Damn it Supercheap Auto, give the man a bonus and an award for treating the business as if it was his own. Every business should be so lucky to have employees like this,” another agreed.

A box was knocked out from the pram and onto the ground. Picture: TikTok / @lizhuson01

“If this man loses his job for standing up to a shoplifter then I will never shop at Supercheap Auto again,” one person threatened.

“Dear Supercheap Auto, if this report turns out to be true, I will be withdrawing my custom from your organisation with immediate effect,” another said.

A third user said they would do the same: “If this man loses his job for standing up to a shoplifter then I will never shop at Supercheap Auto again.”

A Supercheap Auto spokesman told Gold Coast Bulletin a review was standard practice “after an event of this nature”.

“At all times, we remain focused on the health, safety and wellbeing of customers and team members,” he said.

“As we are continuing to co-operate with police on this matter, it would not be appropriate to make further comment at this time.”

news.com.au has contacted the company about why police said no report had been made, and when the employee would be able to resume working.

The video on TikTok alone has been viewed more than 5.5 million times since it was uploaded a week ago.

It is not clear whether the woman actually had a baby in her pram.

At the end of the video, the staff member followed the woman out of sight into the carpark, while another worker wearing a “Covid safe hygiene marshall” vest picked up the box left behind.