Parking issue

[Juno77]

I work in a private club.

There is a big car park out to the front of the building, and a smaller one round the side, next to the door. The staff use the smaller one.

Often, when the staff arrive, this area has been filled by lazy members who want to park closer to the door.

The operating hours only cover daytime (so members don't arrive or leave at night), but the staff are here early when it is still dark, and late into the night. It is in a very secluded area, and the staff don't feel safe walking across the carpark to their cars - so we asked if we could have the side part for staff only.

Note - the side one has lighting and is only 10 steps from the door. The big one has no outdoor lighting (can be pitch black - we have to use torches sometimes) and obviously depending on space, you can be parked quite far away. You can't always see your car from the door.

The request went to the board. The board denied it.

AIBU to be pissed off? This is peoples safety.

[IsItMeOr]

Perhaps an alternative could be to install some lighting to help people find their way back to the big car park?

I find it hard to believe that, in winter months, the club only operates in daylight hours? Although my mind is boggling at what a private club is?

[Quoteunquote]

take a head torch, I always have one with me.

[Juno77]

They won't pay for lighting. We asked this already.

I don't know what you mean by 'hard to believe' - can you use your imagination a bit? I don't want to out myself but its a club that operates an outdoor activity, so yes, we close at 4pm during the winter months. 11pm in summer.

[Juno77]

quote the staff do use torches at the moment. They don't feel safe walking across the carpark (it's a big carpark) with only a torch.

There is nothing nearby, we are totally secluded.

I just wonder what I can do, if anything, but probably nothing. They've said no. I worry that it's a case of not doing anything until something happens...

[Oriunda]

Speaking as a golf widow, I would hazard a guess that it's either golf or tennis. Unfortunately, whilst YANBU, I would imagine that members' fees dictate that the best parking is reserved for them.

[Blu]

Why don't you feel safe? It is perfectly normal to go to and from work and other activities in the dark! What about staff who isn't public transport ? Presumably they have to navigate more than the 10 steps to their cars? Exactly how much later do you stay after daylight hours if the club closes at dusk?

[HoratiaDrelincourt]

Like a tennis club or bowling club?

If board doesn't want to restrict parking, a few motion-sensor lights in the front car park would improve staff safety (and morale) and also site security. What's not to like? Might even bring their insurance premium down.

[Blu]

Are any staff left alone at lock up?

[Juno77]

Oriunda Nail on the head.

I am just pissed off that the members even want to have these spaces available. They aren't reserved for anyone, nothing is (bar a few spaces for captain etc) so it wouldn't hurt to reserve 2 or 3 for staff.

Blu Normally a few hours, so maybe 7 or 8pm. It's pitch black then. And there is no public transport - you have to drive here. Most people going around at night have streetlights or other people/buildings around. That isn't the case here.

[Juno77]

Blu yes, staff are here alone. They lock up alone.

[Juno77]

We asked for lighting - they said no.

Basically there are over 200 spaces and we are asking to reserve 3 of the 8 that are round the side.

[HoratiaDrelincourt]

How secure is your job? Can you say you can't work after dusk and will have to down tools and leave before dark on days when you haven't been able to get a lit space?

Or is there a chance to move your car during the day when the more selfish members go? Might be disruptive but would allow you to stay right to the end.

Disclaimer: IANAL but am feeling PA today

[Juno77]

If someone were to leave to move their car, which we could do, we'd have to leave the premises unattended for a few minutes. We can't really do this. We tried this but it isn't practical. Sometimes it's busy, and you just can't walk out to move your car.

We can't just down tools at dusk, sadly

[45redballoons]

I assume it is not the same staff opening up that close up? therefore the issue is that when staff arrive later on, members have the spaces. Could they not allow staff in the big carpark to move to the smaller one when a staff member leaves?

I personally don't understand the issue about walking across a car park so long as you have a torch, but staff should feel safe and it seems quite a simple issue to sort.

[Juno77]

All we want is 3 spaces round the side reserved for staff only. Out of over 200 spaces.

The bastards said no. They 'don't think it is necessary.'

Funnily enough, it isn't their wives and daughters who have to walk across the pitch black car park alone at night.

[45redballoons]

oh right cross post, sorry.

Actually that makes no sense to me, if there are no members when it gets dark why can't you move it when the members leave? surelyl the work can wait the few minutes it takes to move the car, not like you have people you need to attend to in that time.

[Quoteunquote]

I live rurally, we don't have street lights, the ones we do have go out at midnight, life goes on, we go out we work, it's never occurred to me that lighting would change anything.

are you in a very dangerous area?

[HeadfirstThroughTheTimeVortex]

Can you move your cars when the members leave at 4 and it's still light?

[Juno77]

45red No, during the winter the same person opens as closes. There's also a chef (who often comes in earlier but leaves around 4pm) and then one other person who works 10-4.

I think the issue with walking across the carpark is that it is big, it is surrounded by woodland, it is completely pitch black and you honestly can't even see your car from the door.

[45redballoons]

Ok, then I really don't understand, sorry I'm not trying to be annoying. The person opening would surely get a space where they like as members will not be there yet, the other two may have to park in the big car park but they are leaving at 4 so no issue, surely?

[LackingEnergy]

No club I've been to or any store I've been to or worked at with on site parking has ever reserved the closest spaces for staff (management yes but other staff nope). They're usually told that the spaces furthest from the store/club are the ones they have to use and get a bollocking if they don't :-(

[Juno77]

quote I know, I appreciate that some people live rurally and are used to walking around in the pitch black. I live rurally personally, though we have street lights like you do until a certain time. But here there is nothing and it is really pitch black. And most of the staff aren't used to it - they live in a huge city.

It isn't a dangerous area, but it is very secluded.

[Scholes34]

Sounds like an episode of The Archers with Kathy Perks at the golf club.

[Juno77]

I will try to explain better.

The captain opens the club at 8am every morning. He has a reserved space.

Members then arrive, and rather than use the main car park, park round the side as it is closer to the door.

The staff (who run the bar) arrive around 8:30am. The side spaces are taken, so they use the main car park.

lacking I hope those staff feel safe too. Maybe they don't.

[45redballoons]

By the way, I don't think reserving 3 spaces should be a problem anyway, unless they really do think it will annoy very high paying members, I'm just trying to understand how the issue has come about.

At two different work places we had this issue and were able to move our cars at dusk. One was in a very bad area where member of staff had been attacked, one was just in a secluded area like you mention.