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???

[quote Bargebill19]@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.[/quote]
You don't know that though. What if that worker had a heart attack at work and was taken to hospital? They wouldn't be moving their car then.

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 managing director doesn't need to explain themselves to you or give you a good reason.

HSE rules can be enforced with random spot checks and if HSE turn up and everyone is parked wrongly, individuals can be fined personally.

How do you know that they weren't holding a tool-box talk later on in the shift to inform everyone of the parking rules and he only told you while he saw you as you wouldn't be there for it?

As for thew having no cleaner tomorrow, grow up.

@Clutterbugsmum

If a person chose to reverse park into the space in front of OP (which is the reccommended way to park), then yes, she would have to reverse out of her parking space (which is what is not allowed).

The OP parking the way she does and expecting no one to park in the space in front of her when unoccupied actually takes up two parking spaces.

Have you asked any of the full shift workers what they think the rules are?

Just do as you're told. Walk to work. Or find a new job.

@SomeFolksA

I am contracted for 28 hours over seven days. However I have been going back later in the day, seven days a week to make up the hours other cleaners would be doing - if we could employ them. Warehouse runs 24/7 7 days a week.

I also have a second part time job to fit in, so between them I do 70 hours a week cleaning over 7 days and as split shifts.

If I wasn’t filling in, I would have one job of 28 hours and one of 10 hours = 38 hours spread over 5 days a week.

Today I decided enough was enough and I refused to cover extra and went home at 11am and am having the afternoon off.

I don't mean people can be fined for wrong parking, but that the HSE can personally fine and prosecute the managers rather than The Company if HSE rules aren't being followed.

@OlaEliza

Yes he does need to give me a good reason.

I wouldn’t take a long walk off a short pier just because he told me to.

@trinity0097 yes and they didn’t know either.
They also park so as to make a quick getaway.

ok then.

@Bargebill19 He really does not need to give you any reason.

@Viviennemary

Not walking 20 miles!!! But very likely working somewhere else

[quote Choukette]@Bargebill19 He really does not need to give you any reason.[/quote]
We now live in a dictatorship, do we? I can’t believe the number of people who, when told to jump, meekly inquire how high.

So the new rule is that you can't reverse out of a space. What would happen if someone in the bay in front of you was taken ill and didn't move their car before the end of your shift?

@Alsohuman it's not a dictatorship at all.

Would you question why you are given 20 days annual leave and not 21 days?

Or why you get 8 days of sick leave paid per year and not 10?

Or lone-working policies?

@OlaEliza You should be reverse parked so as not to need to use the bay in front of you.

Are you generally awkward about things. Why can't you just follow the new guidelines.

@Choukette

Yes he does. I wouldn’t take a long walk off a short pier if he told me too - without a very good reason.

Had there been signage up, I would have complied but there isn’t and no handbook etc. So how could I comply? If people ask me to do something and I don’t immediately know why - am I not allowed to ask why and expect a logical reason?

I’d ask all the shift workers to drive front in with their car noses together as a protest! 😉 so they all have to reverse out.

It’s obviously not a real policy otherwise they would know.

I reckon they have seen you drive and think you aren’t good enough to reverse.

[quote Choukette]**@OlaEliza* You should be reverse parked so as not to need* to use the bay in front of you.[/quote]
I know that, the OP obviously doesn't.

OP, how do you plan to park tomorrow morning?

@Vivienne

Because there are no guidelines to follow !!

[quote Bargebill19]@Vivienne

Because there are no guidelines to follow !![/quote]
You've been told verbally.

[quote Choukette]@Alsohuman it's not a dictatorship at all.

Would you question why you are given 20 days annual leave and not 21 days?

Or why you get 8 days of sick leave paid per year and not 10?

Or lone-working policies?[/quote]
Shit analogy. If someone can’t give me a good reason for doing something, I won’t do it. No wonder risk assessment is so poor in the general population when people just meekly do as they’re told without question.

@Gazelda

I intend to park in the front row at the far end of the car park. Roughly half a football pitch away from anyone else.
Thus ensuring I fully comply and if thats not enough then I’ll just go home and enjoy the reverse parking on to my drive.

Now you know I would just reverse into a space to be honest, I can't see the big deal. You can drive, and unless you always park anywhere ensuring you can go out forwards, you must be capable of reversing. I agree that without you knowing about the rule it he shouldn't have had a go, and it's not always right to just wildly follow rules because someone said so; but this is quite common in staff car parks.