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???

Our site also has a reverse in / drive out policy. If there's 180 empty spaces why don't you just go and park in one of them away from the full shift? They can't all be up against the fence surely?

@BarbaraofSeville

Not those spaces were taken this morning. I could have driven to the far end of 200 spaces and walked back - I’m just lazy and like to be a) near the gate exit b) in view of the security guards.

It’s a warehouse storing paper goods. Not a shared site. Maximum 25 employees on site at anyone time.

@ConstanceSalinger

I could and will. But there has never been an issue until today. No site rules to abide by.
I like to park near the gate and in sight of the security guards.
And yes pure laziness on my part - after I’ve walked 30k steps in four hours I just want to get in my car ASAP and go!

@northernbelle84

No site handbook for employees that I have found. I have checked my contract nothing there either.

This is a really common rule in my industry. And it won’t matter that “you knew” you’d be able to drive out later. 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. As for the specific spaces that sounds petty.

If he is not driving the car then reverse gear and how people open the doors has got fuck all to do with him.

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?

Christ "employee asked to park a bit more safely in company car park" is hardly massive ask!! Do you really need it to be in the company handbook before complying with a perfectly reasonable request?

@CRbear

Then signage needs to be put up so people are aware . .... otherwise you just look stupid trying to enforce a rule that appears to have been made up on the spot. Funnily enough my own line managers were not aware and parked completely the wrong way - nose of the car into the fence!!! (Line managers only site visit once a month or so)

Jesus, the micromanagement in our society is batshit crazy. Anyone who gives a stuff which way people park has serious issues. Thank goodness I’ve never worked anywhere where people have had the time or energy to give headspace to such trivia.

Very, very common in my industry too. Reverse park only, and it is usually a disciplinary offence if you don't.

@FlamedToACrisp

Yes I did because he couldn’t give me a good reason. Plus (and no excuse) I’ve worked 60hour weeks for the past month with no time off until this afternoon, so I have very little tolerance for someone throwing his position around without a very good reason.

The reason I’ve done so many hours is to cover the cleaning rota as they cannot find other clearers to work on the site. Today I said I need an afternoon and an evening off. So just did my contracted hours of 4 hours.

Anyone who gives a stuff which way people park has serious issues.

It's HSE - proven to be much safer, which is why it is implemented so widely.

Well - it’s a dead 50/50 split.

It looks like tomorrow they will have zero cleaners.

"someone throwing his position around without a very good reason"

There is a very good reason though - safety. And if you've worked 60 hour weeks then there is even more reason to be safety aware due to fatigue.

It might well be HSE, it’s still ridiculous bollocks.

If he says anything again ask him whether he is implying that your parking skills are inadequate because you are a woman?! If he says that's not what he's implying then ask him why he hasn't issued a similar instruction to all the men on site!

I'm guessing he's trying to convey the safety/evacuation thing about facing forward in every bay and getting his message wrong.

@Alsohuman

It might well be HSE, it’s still ridiculous bollocks.

No it's not. Are you an elf n safety conspiracy theorist?

@Choukette

That’s acceptable - but there needs to be signage or a written policy posted up. The way he confronted me made it sound totally made up and he could not explain why I could not just drive straight through and out!
No reverse gear needed at all.

It might well be HSE, it’s still ridiculous bollocks.

Yeah, because reducing the risk of accidents and potentially saving lives is ridiculous bollocks.

Are you sure he isn't winding you up?

@Choukette

Yes I agree. - that’s why I parked KNOWING I didn’t have to reverse out - as the car in front was leaving his shift after I had clocked in.

@Bargebill19 I do agree that there needs to be signage (although not a written policy as it should apply to visitors and they won't necessarily see your written policy).

you should reverse into a space because it's easier to manoeuvre the car - and you shouldn't be reversing out of parking spaces (except at the supermarket or IKEA or something) because visibility is bad and you might run someone over.

Also I'm ex-military and had it drummed into me that you should always be ready to jump in and drive off. You can't do that if you have to back out of a space.