It’s a parking one at work!!

[Bargebill19]

So, I work part time as a cleaner. I drive a new car. I do 4 hours. Everyone else works 7-7 shifts. I’m out by 11am.

I have been told by the managing director that I must park my car at the front of double bays, not at the rear and always facing forward to avoid doors clashing and using reverse gear.
There are 200 spaces and only 20 cars on site at anyone time.
There is no signage to say forward parking only.
Nothing in my contract to say there are parking rules.
Not site specific rules anywhere.
I parked in space A facing forward to drive straight out - in front of me was a night shift car which would be leaving 15 mins after I arrive. I admit I like to park in the first space with a gap either side of me.
Apparently I can only park in spaces BCDEFG etc. Or I can reverse park into a space up at the fence. I do not like these as 1) they are disability spaces 2) they have overhanging trees which loose branches in the wind onto cars parked there.
I could have parked in space E this morning - but cars in D and F have made the space tight and I didn’t want to ding their doors or have them ding mine when there was zero need.
The manager director couldn’t give me a reason as to why I had to park like this other than to avoid using reverse gear - which I would have had to use to get into a fence space - or to get out of one. But apparently that was fine........
When I said he was bonkers - he said the gatehouse will report my car in the morning- I said fine nice to know security will keep an eye on my car! (Security have said they really couldn’t care less!)
There is no reason that is covid related that I can think of, as it is better for cars to be spread out to avoid people accidentally touching each other’s cars rather than parked like sardines. Especially when the majority of people arrive and leave together.
I’m so tempted to park across two spaces tomorrow facing the right way on the right side just to see him get even more annoyed.
FWIW - there are only two female drivers on site the rest are all men - if that makes any difference! Plus my car is the only bright yellow one in a sea of black or white cars.
Anyone have any ideas as to his reasoning before I do park it large???

The rule is reverse in so you can drive out. Particularly relevant with shifts as people are expected to be tired and driving out is less likely to result in an accident. No one wants to have to wonder if the one car breaking rules is someone on a different shift pattern- the rule is what it is

This.

but there needs to be signage or a written policy posted up

Why? You've been asked. Maybe everyone else knows the rule. Is it possible office-wife emails have been shared about this that you haven't got because you woke in a different role? Is it possible you're the only one parking how and wherever you like?

No as I’ve posted today - night shift don’t know and neither do today’s security shift - who were reported by the MD to themselves. They parked as and where they felt like.

No email round robins.

So following your latest posts, he was indeed having a go at you.

If I were in your shoes, I'd cut back on cleaning at his place to the contracted hours, and make up hours in the other roles you have, since they're asking you to take on more work.

@MulticolourMophead

That is exactly my plan of action.

How much do you like your job. Yes its seems faffy, but @FlamedToACrisp has hit the nail on the head:
*So, he's the Managing Director and you're a part-time cleaner, and you told him he was bonkers instead of gritting your teeth and saying, "Yes of course, sorry."

I know it's been a while since I worked, but have things really changed that much?*

He has to make the rules for the safety and convenience of the whole site, employees have to follow the rules. It would be nice if he explained to everyone exactly why he has set the rules if he had time, and get feedback if he had the inclination, but he probably isn't running the company as a democracy.

Would be nice to be able to read /see the rules so we knew what to adhere to, rather than having to be mind readers.
You cannot follow rules that no one knows about.

So he's the Managing Director and you're a part-time cleaner, and you told him he was bonkers instead of gritting your teeth and saying, "Yes of course, sorry"

Wow...don't even know what to say to some of these comments...just wow!
So just being a "lowly cleaner" means you have to bow down to somebody and do whatever is asked no question just because he's an MD?!
More fool you if that's the case!!

OP I'm glad you're not a doormat who thinks you should be forever grateful to be able to clean this mans toilet 🙄 good for you! And good for your little yellow boob car!

He probably has a very small willy car 😉

@TJ17

Thank you.

He;s the managing director - I'm sure he's allowed to make new rules if he wants to. There doesn't need to be signs as long as everyone has been told - which you have been.

You've said it yourself you're being lazy, all these excuses of can't park under a tree, don't want to walk too far, want to be in sight of a security person, etc. Blimey, just do as you're told.

It's not an unusual rule, I've certainly worked at places with this rule. No sign, we all got sent an email. Maybe as you're a cleaner you don't have an email hence why they've told you face to face?

@TJ17

So he's the Managing Director and you're a part-time cleaner, and you told him he was bonkers instead of gritting your teeth and saying, "Yes of course, sorry"

Wow...don't even know what to say to some of these comments...just wow!
So just being a "lowly cleaner" means you have to bow down to somebody and do whatever is asked no question just because he's an MD?!
More fool you if that's the case!!

OP I'm glad you're not a doormat who thinks you should be forever grateful to be able to clean this mans toilet 🙄 good for you! And good for your little yellow boob car!

He probably has a very small willy car 😉

Don't think anyone is saying that at all. It's not a case of doing whatever is asked without question. She has questioned it, being told the reason why (fairly normalish health and safety rule) and is still arguing the toss.

The MD has a duty of care to all employees and whether you agree or not this has been deemed to put people at increased risk. So refusing to abide by the rule just because you don't agree will put your job at risk. And you may not like it and it may not be PC to say so but this is 100x more so when you're a cleaner or someone non specialised who can be replaced easily. If the OP was some form of specialised technician with x years of training on some equipment maybe they could argue the toss more. But it would be fairly easy to get rid of her on gross misconduct if she carries on, as long as they abide by the HR process of verbal and written warnings, etc.

It doesn’t matter whether someone is a cleaner or a senior engineer. Generally in a company if the MD tells someone to do something, as long as it is safe and legal, you have to do it.

No one has email.

Yep I’m lazy - I’ve walked of 30k steps carrying heavy buckets of water in four hours. Do I really want to walk more - no but I have done.
I parked EXACTLY the same as other male workers - yet they HAVE NOT BEEN TOLD to park in a certain way.
Yep so sorry I don’t want the car I’ve worked very hard to purchase stoved in by tree branches, because they won’t pay to trim the trees.
Yes being a lone female worker walking back to a car in the dark at night- I quite like the security of knowing I’m being watched by the security staff on site. Although I expect you would think I should be grateful for any male attention in any form as I’m just a cleaner not entitled to think of her own personal safety.

Thanks

You're the one who said in one post that you're lazy,

You said in the OP you're out by 11am. Now you're talking about walking to the car in the dark at night?

@JacobReesMogadishu

I’m not still arguing the toss. I complied today. The first day possible as I was only told yesterday.
I asked on here as he was unable to give me a coherent answer. Some lovely posters provided that explanation I asked for.
If you don’t ask you will never ever learn. I now do not know why I have to park in a certain way BUT NO ONE ELSE DOES. Maybe YOU can answer that.
My job is NOT at risk as he DOES NOT employ me.

If you think he's telling you this because you're female and he hasn't told the male workers sue him for sexual discrimination.

He might not employ you but I'm sure he can ask your cleaning firm to provide someone else.

Yes because if you had read what I actually wrote a) my ‘lazy’ post was in self mocking - something you evidently didn’t get. My bad.
b) I have to cover other cleaning shifts on the same site as no one wants the job I’m doing 60 hours a week over split shifts as the site is run 24/7. But then you’re the lazy one who can’t be bothered to read.

Sigh.

As I’ve said no one wants the job.

Well I'm amazed you have the time to make a thread about something so trivial when all you have to do is reverse into a space. I was bored after about the 3rd post so yes, skipped the rest. :)

Sigh

Sue for sexual discrimination - life is toooo short at my age for that!!!

Then go back under your bridge.

I was being slightly sarcastic. You obviously didn;t get that. My bad.

Don't know why I wasted my time writing a couple of helpful posts explaining about the h&s reasons and that he can do what he wants. I was for a minute concerned about you losing your work there so thought I'd try and point out that you needed to do as you're told. Wish I hadn't bothered.

So do I !

Please don’t be worried about me losing my job - it’s only pin money.

lucky you to have a parking space xx