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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

It’s a parking one at work!!

312 replies

Bargebill19 · 22/07/2020 12:11

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???

It’s a parking one at work!!
OP posts:
Alsohuman · 22/07/2020 12:57

Are you an elf n safety conspiracy theorist?

No I’m a perfectly competent driver who grew up in a world where people were deemed sensible enough to use their own judgement over something as trivial as how to park their car.

CRbear · 22/07/2020 12:58

@Bargebill19 absolutely there should be signage. But by common in my industry I mean it wouldn’t even occur to me to park any other way at my office or any other office of one of our competitors - it’s that ingrained. I reverse park everywhere in fact. Not an excuse but it might be a situation like that.

JackiesArmy · 22/07/2020 12:58

He didn't know that the car in space D was leaving soon, so as far as he could see you were parking nose in and were going to have to back out.

The rules presumably do make some sense - you are to either back in to spaces by the fence, or drive straight through into spaces B-G. Either way you won't have to reverse out.

So he isn't bonkers, he's just not explaining it very clearly, but then again as MD he probably shouldn't have to.

Bargebill19 · 22/07/2020 12:59

@Cyberattack

Well if he is he’ll be cleaning his own urinal!!!

Despite paying over the odds for cleaning - the other cleaning shifts can’t be filled - the last one walked off the job mid shift. They’ve been looking for over a month. I accepted to work longer hours to cover - I won’t be doing so in future.

OP posts:
TreestumpsAndTrampolines · 22/07/2020 12:59

It's not the reverse gear - he explained it poorly - it's reversing out, which, yes, after 11am you wouldn't have had to, but in an emergency, before 11am you would have had to.

All you have to do is reverse in. So park where you did, but reverse in, so you can drive straight out without driving through another space. It's really not a big thing.

Alsohuman · 22/07/2020 12:59

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

So, what’s different about the supermarket or Ikea?

Choukette · 22/07/2020 13:00

@CRbear Same.

Are you also a handrail-holding pro?

Smallsteps88 · 22/07/2020 13:01

I’d ask him to put his request, and reasoning, in writing. Otherwise ignore.

Choukette · 22/07/2020 13:01

@Alsohuman You shouldn't be doing it at those places either - the risk is much higher, particularly to young children.

TreestumpsAndTrampolines · 22/07/2020 13:01

So, what’s different about the supermarket or Ikea?

It's more risky there too, but you need to be able to get into the boot, so the usability means the higher risk is accepted.

Bargebill19 · 22/07/2020 13:01

@JackiesArmy

The MD turned up at 11am - as I was leaving, the car in space D had left at 7:10am. There was no car in front. Apparently I can’t park in the space I did even if there was NO car in front .

No allocates car spaces to specific shifts or persons other than the standard disability spaces.

OP posts:
Iiketoreadeveryday · 22/07/2020 13:02

@FlamedToACrisp

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?

Exactly Remember now covid has many unemployed people ready to replace you.
CRbear · 22/07/2020 13:02

@Choukette Grin yes! And lids for hot drinks (but never on the stairs!). Willing to bet it’s the same industry!

MintyMabel · 22/07/2020 13:03

Many organisations have a reverse in only policy. It has been shown to be safer. Avoiding reversing altogether by driving in to the front of a double space makes it safer still. The MD is quite within his rights to say how the car park has to be used.

Smallsteps88 · 22/07/2020 13:04

FWIW I do agree you should reverse park where possible.

Supermarkets/IKEA an exception because you need access to your car boot and can’t haul trollies between cars.

Finfintytint · 22/07/2020 13:05

I know this won’t be popular OP but driving through to reach the other bay is more risky too.

Choukette · 22/07/2020 13:06

@CRbear Yes, yes. Lids to, and no mobile phones on stairways...

I am not taking you up on that bet because I am certain it is the same one.

In our US offices we are politely requested to leave our guns in the carpark security bay...

ConstanceSalinger · 22/07/2020 13:07

[quote Bargebill19]@JackiesArmy

The MD turned up at 11am - as I was leaving, the car in space D had left at 7:10am. There was no car in front. Apparently I can’t park in the space I did even if there was NO car in front .

No allocates car spaces to specific shifts or persons other than the standard disability spaces.[/quote]
I've another theory which is that we try to save the closest spaces to the door for those finishing last and those needing to be in and out of the office regularly.

Are you really prepared to make a massive fuss over parking 10 slots away? Was he rude when he asked you? How badly do you need the job?

Bargebill19 · 22/07/2020 13:09

I’m sorry people. But the health and safety thing does make me laugh as he quite blatantly ignores the fact we are all
Supposed to wear safety shoes (steel toe caps) on site at all times.
Guess who never does?

Regarding the car - I accept that what you are all saying is correct and logical. That’s fine and acceptable.
But that’s not what he said to me.
There no signage or handbook and it’s not even mentioned in staff induction - So how am I supposed to know this and probably god knows how many other site rules that may or may not exist?

OP posts:
Clutterbugsmum · 22/07/2020 13:10

Well he obviously can't reverse so is making sure no one else can.

I would perhaps suggest as there are far more parking spaces then staff then perhaps everyone should have allocated parking space leaving at least one free parking space between so no one has issues with doors.

Lonecatwithkitten · 22/07/2020 13:11

Maybe he doesn't like the colour yellow and can see your car from his office where you park currently.
Sounds crazy, but DP worked for someone who hated the colour red on cars ( professional rivalry) and DP had a red car. The MD is a world famous control freak in their industry and hated being able to see DP's car from his office so had a car parking space specifically allocated to DP that was not visible from his office.
At the time DP was relatively low in the organisation and he just accepted the MD said jump and he said how high.

Ohdeariedear · 22/07/2020 13:11

@Choukette @CRbear DH has to hold the handrail on the stairs at his work. I thought he was joking when he told me but clearly not! Reverse parking too.

SomeFolksA · 22/07/2020 13:11

It’s a bit micromanaging. Unless specific health and safety issues as obviously it’s a thing in some industries given what others have posted. Just seems bit petty otherwise.

If you’ve been covering other shifts and doing 60hr weeks how can you be leaving at 11am every single day and talking about only doing 4hr?? What hours have you being doing ive are they starting same time as other shifts or are you always the only one leaving/arriving?

Also out of interest for pp who talked about fire petrol Plant Or something ... so the fire alarm goes are employees really meant to collect their car keys and evacuate in their own cars Shock

Bargebill19 · 22/07/2020 13:12

@ConstanceSalinger

I don’t need the job at all. Neither apparently does anyone else.
He was condescending.
I was asking if anyone knew why I wasn’t allowed to use reverse gear when it was clear I wasn’t going to use it anyway.
I asked why and got a nonsensical reply.
I like to follow rules - sadly I’m apparently supposed to be psychic in order to know what they are.

OP posts:
Clutterbugsmum · 22/07/2020 13:13

But OP is not reversing anywhere. She drives in behind someone who she knows well leave before her, she then drives straight when leaving.

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