Having to wait for everyone's lifts after work

[Tired75643]

I'm a team leader in a pub, I regularly work the evening shifts and have to set the alarm and lock up once everyone has finished and left. Generally it'll be me and one other member of staff at the end of the night finishing, some drive home, some (like me) get taxis and wait at the back of the pub.
Recently we've had a couple of new staff start who rely on lifts from parents when they finish, the problem is they are waiting about 20-30 minutes for them once we're finished. Both are younger girls who don't feel safe waiting outside alone, which is understandable. I obviously can't lock the door until they're outside so I have to wait with them but this is adding half an hour onto my shift when I just want to get home and go to bed, my taxi only usually takes 5 minutes to get there.
I talked to the manager about it and his answer was just tell them to wait outside and go....but I really don't want to leave 19 year old girls on their own late at night when they don't feel safe. I also don't want to be waiting at work longer than I need to, unpaid, after a long shift.
I've tried telling them when it looks like they're half an hour away from finishing so they can call their lifts but there always seems to be a delay, and there's no guarantee what time we will finish so they can't set a specific time.
AIBU to ask my manager to either sort
something out with the staff members
or let me stay clocked in until I can actually lock up and find some extra tasks so I'm at least being paid to be there?

You are kind to wait and I would. But by staying on you are making it seem ok to the staff to make you wait (I would wait outside with them and see their parents and explain that this is the last time)

A bit of a tricky one. What time are they paid up to? Surely they can make sure their lift is there for the time they are supposed to finish? Have they asked you to wait with them?

If they feel unsafe waiting outside, they need to tell their parents that, and ask them to arrive a bit earlier. What's the problem if the parents arrive before the girls finish their shifts? Can't they wait in their cars for them if necessary?

They and their parents need to be told this can't continue. You shouldn't be taken advantage of. If your manager won't sort it it looks as though you'll have to unfortunately.

God they're bloody 19 not 12! They need to sort themselves out, just leave them to it.

How come you can't guarantee what time you'll finish? I worked in loads of bars when younger, we were paid hourly rate and had set hours for a shift.
I think you need to be more explicit with the girls and the manager. Say you can't stay later and they need to be picked up by X time otherwise you'll have no choice but to lock up and ask them to wait outside. You might only have to do this once for it to focus the parents on getting there to collect them on time.

These are adults. You’re kind to be looking out for them for them, but they aren’t your responsibility. You gave them the option to call their lifts half an hour early, I would say offer again that it’s not working for you this having around waiting for them, and then just go home. I doubt any boss would pay staff for longer than is necessary.

Say to them I can’t wait tonight, so you aren’t waiting outside call your lift now, or give them a set finish time even if others need to be more flexible.

Where I work the duty manager and one or 2 bar staff just work a finish, literally just until everything is done, everyone else has a set finish on their rota, but we're paid until we clock out at the end. Timing just depends on how busy it was, how many customers stay until close etc but generally it will be within a half hour window. I don't know why their lifts aren't just expecting the same time but they don't seem to leave until they get the call, or sometimes they'll be busy and be a few minutes later.
I've talked to them myself and said I just want to go home when we're done, pretty much every shift I say the same thing that I need them to get their lifts sorted earlier or wait outside, every time they apologise and say they will.
Personally I think its a safe enough place to wait outside, I always have but I can see why it wouldn't feel safe for them which is why I don't want to be the one locking them out and leaving them there.
It know it really shouldn't be my problem but I probably will have to be harsher with them if my manager won't step in

I think the problem here is the "can't guarantee what time you finish" bit.
Tbh I imagine the parents got a bit sick of their dc ringing at 11.30 saying we'll be out by 12, leaving the house then sitting waiting in the car until 12.20 when they probably want to be in bed as much as you.

Surely you know what time the pub closes/last orders, so just tell them their shift ends half an hour (or whatever time it takes to clean etc) after that, and tell them you won't be waiting around with them so make sure their parent is there by then.
They have an incentive to get everything they need done if they aren't being paid after that half hour ending, so there shouldn't be any delay.

Presumably it's not always you on shift with these staff members, if the manager leaves them alone on their days then they're not at any more risk on the days you're in charge.

--cross posted with your update but advice hasn't really changed - if they are still on the clock until they leave and they get a lift home regardless there's no incentive for them to be ready, if anything they get a few quid more from dawdling, so yeah, think it's fine to tell them their shift ends at the time they are rota'd and they don't get paid after that.

So do they only call for a lift when they've already finished? If so, can you say to them 'it looks like we'll be done in 30 mins, can you call for your lifts to collect you at 11.45 please?' (or whatever)

Firstly, they are WOMEN not girls.
Secondly, if they or their parents don't want them waiting around outside for half an hour then the parents need to get there earlier.

I’ve been that parent (although dd was younger, covid arrived when she was 17 and ended her waiting on job). Give them a set finish time, last orders and closing time are set so there’s no reason that they can’t know they’re working until 11.30 in advance. My life was on hold completely whilst she was at work, couldn’t have a shower, walk the dog, pick up the other child in case she called for a lift.

Why can’t they get taxis home, like you, which arrive within five minutes?

If you make them wait outside, they will ask their parents to turn up on time, or get a taxi. You are not obliged to cover for their reluctance to pay for a taxi or their parents' reluctance to turn up on time.

⬆️ yes, if they have to wait outside, they’ll call their parents on time.

Do they generally finish at a set time?

From the OP:
I've tried telling them when it looks like they're half an hour away from finishing so they can call their lifts but there always seems to be a delay,

They are not incentivised to change because you have become their safety net. You need to let them know that from now on you will be locking up when your shift ends.

Work aren't gonna pay you because you choose to babysit adults after work

They are nineteen! This is not your problem.

Would having a time they leave regardless of whether everything is done work? Agree that people who cannot be on time is not OK.

You might have a few extra things to do on some occasions, but no waiting around for you.

These are adult women who have to ensure that arrangements work for them. They're fortunate to have parents who will collect them.
It's good that you've previously given a 30 minute reminder, but it's not your job.
Tell them that you're locking up. They'll soon improve their arrangements.

either the parents aren't concerned about them hanging around, or they just rely on the fact that you will on their behalf.
Are you having to pay your cab to wait?

If you don't go and leave them then they have no incentive to change.

It is very nice of you to wait and let them stay indoors. However, these are working adults and it is upto them to sort their rides. You need to just head home if you don't want to wait up. There is no incentive for parents to pick them up faster when they're not standing in the rain at night. There is no reason for the employer to pay you for not working.