A parking thread *no diagram*

[freeparkeremployee]

Disclaimer - there's no diagrams needed for this one and I've namechanged because I work for a large employer and this could have been outing with my post history.

Have worked for employer (public sector- not council or NHS) for 12 years and always had free on-site parking. Employer now wants to charge £20 a month. I've not asked this question in legal as I know legally they can do this but is there any argument for why they shouldn't!?

AIBU in thinking my salary has just been reduced by £240 and that's not on!?

It is £2 a day if you are in Nottingham.

what is the money going on?

Why has your employer suddenly decided to do this?

Previous companies I've worked for have been charged for their parking spaces so most have passed the charge on to their employees. Others haven't initially but have then changed their policies.

You've been lucky to have this perk in the past, and I know it's annoying to have it withdrawn, but I'm not sure there's anything you can do about it. Your best bet would be to speak to your union who, in the public sector, will have been consulted on this. I know people on minimum wage who've had a daily £5 lunch voucher removed - that's about £1000 a year pay cut.

£20 a month sounds like a bargain to me. The nearest on-street parking to the office I work from is £3.50 pd, and that's a 10 minute walk away.

DP recently went for an interview at a hospital on the edge of a town a few miles away. On a salary of £26k, the charge for a staff parking permit was £70 a month. He asked what the charge was for motorbikes and was told it was the same!

Oh, and that £70 a month didn't even guarantee a space - more permits are issued than spaces, on the basis that on any day, some people won't be at work, and anecdotally I've heard that if you're not there by 8 you won't be able to park and will have to pay to park in the public spaces.

Council staff where I live pay £1.10 pd to park, they get the cheapest all day parking in town (apart from residents, who pay £70 pa, but 20% more permits than spaces have been issued, so they often end up having to pay too).

Parking has become a huge income generator for anyone with land that cars can park on. My mate rents out her garage for £50 a week!

Unless you need your car for your job, then surely it is optional to park there - and therefore not a pay cut. I am sure there's ways round it if you really wanted - parking elsewhere and walking or cycling for a bit, meeting colleagues a bit away and leaving other cars in order to car share, or even taking turns to collect each other?

I think employers should be doing their part to discourage people from driving to work.

If you need your car everyday for your job then I don't believe you should have to pay to park though.

I just realised I forgot to mention public transport too.

I would love the opportunity to be able to park on site for a mere £20 a month. Instead, if I can even find a space, it is £8.50 a day. Sorry, not feeling sympathetic.

yes of course they can - you can choose to park elsewhere or get the bus

I am an essential car user - public sector - we have 3 brand new buildings - with no parking - our main site has limited parking - permit only (my manager pays for ours from the budget) and if I park for meetings etc I can only claim back a percentage

and the nature of my job means I have to drive - can't do it by bike or public transport

From an environmental perspective I can see why an employer might want to discourage driving so by introducing a nominal fee people will think twice and consider alternatives. Also are there enough spaces for everyone? If not I can see why they might want to introduce this.

£20 a month is cheap. I would snap that up.

YABU