Girls arriving and leaving work early morning late evening

[OneCheeryGoldMoose]

I know I'll probably be told off but just for traffic posting on here.

My husband and I run a company and we have two younger girls who run the office with us.

Husband and I are going away for three weeks for a wedding and making a family holiday of it as it's over the other side of the world.

We have an office that's on an industrial estate and is very dark and not well lit in the mornings and evenings- and we start early due to the nature of the business 5.30/6am to get all the boys in and out with job pack if they are required on the day.

Normally we pick the girls up on the way in and drop them home during the winter for safety as they are local.

I know it's probably over the top of me but we are worried about them feeling safe getting in and out on their own in the mornings and evenings (it is a sketchy South London Industrial estate)- does anyone have any suggestions to make them feel a bit safer. We have a ring camera set up on the door of the office.

None of the boys can bring them in as they have material to pick up.

You sound very kind to your employees.

You can pre-book taxis for them so you know they are safe, but it would cost a lot I expect

Pay for an uber/ taxi there, and back.

They are currently refusing to let us as they said they'll come in together and be fine but I am still concerned lol.

That's really kind, I'd also pay for a taxi etc for them

If they are over 18 then I would trust that they can risk assess for themselves.

Nice of you to offer, patronising for you to not listen to them.

Taxi seems the simplest solution - and probably only needed in the morning if they can get public transport back - there are presumably more people around by then.

But if they're happy travelling together but independently, then accept that.

You say the boys can't do it, is it that they don't want to or more of a timing / shift scheduled issue ?
Could you get them to start early/ finish later and pay them extra to cover the time and fuel ?

How old are they. You use the term girls. Are they not women?

If you are employing girls then it would be a safeguarding concern that they are starting so early.

You’re very kind and you trust your instincts.

I would kindly pull-rank, and insist on the taxi.

If you don’t do it, it will play on your mind when you’re away.

You’re calling them girls but assume they are women? If they’re in their 20s leave them to it. Statistically they are more at risk with the ‘boys’ they know than with strangers.

Are you employing actual children? If not, please stop calling them boys and girls. If they aren’t actual children, then they can do their own risk assessments on how to get to and from work.

Missed the quote

Are they children? Calling them boys and girls is extremely patronising.

Agree with this

If they are adults living in South London, they will be street-wise and aware of problems. They will be used to going out at night and coming back at all hours.

If they say they are fine, then trust them.

My DCs have grown up in South London (one of each, both early 20s) and are happy wandering around at all times of day and night.

That's very good of them I think you could cover this by doing a risk assessment and stating that you've assessed various options to keep them safe in your absence and this is the best option.
Also if you pre-book a block of days you may get a good discount!

Then you have offered - they’ve declined, leave it at that?

But they can't trust theirs?

You can not force someone else to do something to manage your own anxiety on holiday. It is controlling and above the role of employer.

Offering a taxi, encouraging a taxi is a great thing to do. But it is up to the adult to decide how they wish to make their way to and from work.

Why not offer them the option? If they feel unsafe, or have to leave at different times on a dark night, let them either book an Uber on a company account or book an uber, show you the receipt and you transfer the money to them asap on each occasion.

And yes, you do sound like a lovely and considerate employer. I wish there were more like you around.

Could you ask them if they would like you to hire an agency security guard for the three weeks just to be there for opening up and at the end of the day to be there for them ? Or let them start later and finish early if the job allows it .

Use of the term "girls" and also "boys" in the op is a bit cringy.

Very kind of you to be worried about them, but they are adults and can probably sort themselves out with how they get to work.

Ah I am not meaning to sound patronising about boys and girls- that's just what we all call each other. If that's offended some people you would have a breakdown with the rest of the things we all call each other lol.

I'm just concerned about the safety of my young employees not trying to be a controlling employer ffs.

I think you are trying to parent other adults.

Surely if they were bothered they could get a relative or friend to take them. Travelling together seems a good solution if they don’t want a taxi

When are you going? It is started to get lighter in the mornings and afternoons - It might not be too dark.
Also, guessing they are not 'girls' but actually young women (not a critisism of wording.. just that they are a bit older than children).