I'm several weeks into a new job, famous large retailer (please don't ask me to name) and so far they have been pretty good to work for.
Mon-Fri we can use the store's regular car park (ie the customers one)
Weekends are too busy so we park at the store's depot, 20 minutes walk away. A shuttle service is laid on from store to here, although if traffic is bad , staff will often end up walking in ; not an issue in daylight. HR say they'd rather we use the shuttle than walk (it's not a great area, dodgy underpass, badly lit at night etc..they know a few eves ago I was approached for money in the regular car park)
I always finish at night (as work late afternoon to late eve shifts) and my hours have been extended slightly, however, I've always made the last shuttle back to the depot. I've had chats with the drivers and they always say they have a good idea of who is left in the store and can't go (home) until the last day/eve staff are out. Also a tannoy announcement is made to remind us re the last bus.
I can't leave until my department is tidy for the next morning and all the stock recovery is finished. Particularly busy tonight and I worked alone as they are short staffed. As often happens but tonight was busier. (I'm the only dept that doesn't have a team..it's just me and now a new part timer who won't be doing lates)
I stayed half an hour late, as I often do, as I say, I can't leave until things are done, I don't have an issue with this, I've been in retail for a decades and I know the score. (This isn't a martyr thing and I have missed the last bus back before, )
Anyway I finished and clocked out and asked at reception, had I just missed a bus. It finished for the night, half an hour ago, they said.
I was knackered after being on feet all night but went off to walk back to my car. The depot is on an industrial estate and poorly lit. No one was around at all. Nothing happened but I realise anything could have (also the depot is at the very back of the ind estate, tucked away) but I knew I could get into my car at the end. I felt vulnerable but didn't even see another person.
And then I got to the gates of the depot and they were locked.
At this point, standing out there in the dark, I did feel really vulnerable and burst into tears. I live 12 miles away and DP is away working most of the time.
Luckily DP got back last night. He came to get me but I don't think it's acceptable. If he'd not been around I'd have been stuck as no public transport to where we live (remote) and I don't have the money for a taxi. My car is obviously still there and as I'm back working tomorrow I won't be able to collect it until tomorrow evening.
I was standing out there in the dark for 45 minutes waiting for him. I'd had a gruelling shift, am not feeling well and had no energy at all to walk back to work, where no one would be able to help anyway as just the night workers and one security guy.
I will speak to HR tomorrow.
Would you be mad?
At no point since started work have I ever been told/warned that the depot's car park closed at a certain time. I assumed it was open 24/7 like the stores (where people work 24/7)
My issue isn't so much missing the bus as that was just something I'd suck up, I knew I'd have to work late. But not being able to get to my car is crazy!