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.

That’s not how employment law works….

You sound like caring employers. You're a rare breed. Maybe explain to them that organising ubers would bring you peace of mind. And that you'll be worrying otherwise.

@ScarletLipstick No wonder women these days are such wet lettuces...

Yes, miss, Sorry, miss.

The OP using "girls" and "boys" to define their employees makes it sound as she is employing children. I assume those girls and boys are old enough to be young working adults.

I work alone and sometimes leave the office late at night. I WhatsApp my bosses to let them know I'm safe because that's what we agreed in response to the risk assessment. I think something like that might put your mind at ease @OneCheeryGoldMoose

Have you read the update? They now have the option to use an uber or not. Their choice.

Please don't do that! I would be annoyed if my employer insisted on this. I personally hate getting taxis to work for all sorts of reasons that others would not feel is irritating but it is to me. They have obviuosly made a decision as to what suites them best (to come in together) leaev it to them. They are adults, offer them your options for solutions but ultimately let them pick their own !

OP have you got any jobs going in the NW lol😂I'd love to have such a kind and considerate employer! You got me thinking of my very first job in a supermarket where the manager would frequently bugger off home early and leave me to lock up, I had just turned 18 and it would be pitch black and deserted. I was convinced I was going to be mugged basically every night. Thank goodness there are still businesses like yours where employees are actually valued!

To be clear:

In the office, calling each other the girls and boys is fine, if everyone is OK and not offended
Calling them "younger girls" whilst ignoring their decisions is not fine and comes over patronising

Offering them a taxi/Uber is fine and the sign of a good boss (we have the same as we finish late, if we can't get home or feel unsafe)
Ignoring them when they say they'll be ok and coming online for tips to "make them feel more safe" when they haven't expressed feeling unsafe, patronising

Consider this:
"Hi Gemma and Maria, so as you know Bob and I are going to be away for 3 weeks and won't be able to bring you in like normal. We obviously want you to feel safe coming to work so we've set up a company Uber account, please feel free to use this to come to work and get home if you'll feel safer. You've got a plan? That's fine but the offer is there."
Compared to
"Hi Gemma and Maria. Bob and I are away so I've booked you Ubers every day. You don't want to use an Uber? Well I insist. Also here's a load of literature about staying safe out there."

I have shown them this thread and they have said you are patronising informing other people how they should be referred to and hope they never work anywhere that's so strict minded.

Furthermore, if you actually read anything, I asked once. They now have our card on their ubers to use if they wish to.

They sound pretty much like they can handle themselves.

I'm sure they go on nights out when not working so are aware of how the areas around there are.

It's lovely that you are thinking of their safety.

OMG this is just what I was thinking.... what industry is this that allows actual bants and looks after staff? Im in!

Book them taxis. Try to get a woman driver.

< this >

Except I've clearly said you can say it at work, the issue is the way you've used it here.

And, BTW, there are plenty of things you can't call people at work and people will tell you that. It's not patronising to point out how language can be misused

Your entire thread is asking for advice to give them beyond listening to them...

Indeed.
Otherwise John would be allowed to balance a chair on his desk to reach the high shelf if he insisted he was safe, and Brenda could refuse the hard hat on site visits if she felt she was enough of an adult to avoid hitting her head.
OP, if you are aware this is a dangerous area and you are requiring the women to be in it in the dark, you have identified a risk you're obligated to mitigate. I recommend you email the women telling them taxis will be provided and that they must only attend in pairs.
If in your absence they refuse to use them, then that would be their 'negligence' not yours.

No, my entire thread was asking for extra safety advice for two lovely employees who I listen to every Monday about walking home drunk, giving them advice on men who they are talking to and what behaviour not to tolerate, helping them book appointments for things they don't know how to do because they are YOUNG.

So yes, fine, I'll be patronising, because they are like family not just employees; as with all my other staff who have been with us since the beginning, resulting in hardly any staff turnover and only losing a couple of staff members due to country moves or retirement. So patronising we may sound, but we must be doing something spectacularly right.

We also offer the boys extended paternity leave (Paid). Does that mean we are mollycoddling them as well 😂

@OneCheeryGoldMoose All I can say, OP, is that I very much hope that my DD has employers like you when she finishes university. Wishing you and your husband a wonderful holiday.

Personal alarms, bespoke security guard for two women, chaperones, rape alarms, whistles, (illegal) pepper spray - I've heard it all. In any case, young men (16-24) are more likely to be victims of violent crime than women of the same age (although unremarkably women are more likely to be victims of sexual offences).

Worboys was a black cab driver (the kitemark of safety and excellence!) and a south Londoner ...

My 81 year old mum still has lunches with "the girls". They are all in their 80s, I love it.

Are you trying to be helpful? It’s not coming across.

@OneCheeryGoldMoose I worked in construction for fourteen years. Hard hat, boots, hi vis and all. These hand wringing posts are a hoot. You've offered the Uber. Don't worry about the Notting Hill set 😁

Deep heat spray is legal though, and will give similar results 😉

I wouldn’t have presented it as an offer.

I would have said “in our extended absence, I had arranged for Taxis to collect you at the same time we do” @OneCheeryGoldMoose