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Original poster

Removal of parking permits at work

76 replies

ChristmasDoDos · 07/12/2023 09:31

I live just inside (0.9 miles) a 1 mile radius of my work and since 2017 when I started, I have driven. I've got animals to check on before and after work and this arrangement works for me as I can go straight from work to sort them.

Work are removing permits for anyone withing the one mile radius and while this will be a fecking huge inconvenience for me (also nowhere to park on surrounding streets locally), I also do emergency on calls which could mean staying on after a shifts for an unspecified length of time. For example, if I'm on a late shift (start at 12, not allowed to park onsite) and have to stay on this could mean that I'm walking home alone at 2 or 3am, which I think is unacceptable and a massive risk to my safety. Aside from this I am prepared to suck it up, would I be unreasonable to say I won't do on calls any more if I can't drive to work on those days?

OP posts:

YireosDodeAver · 07/12/2023 09:37

Yanbu to refuse on-calls late at night without a permit but I would expect that to be part of the on-call policy which would be separate from the office-hours parking policy.

Could you look into using a bike or e-scooter rather than a car for the daytime journeys? 0.9miles is less than 15 mins walk and it's rather bad for a car to do such short journeys so it would be good to try to find a different way. If on-site parking is limited then it's totally reasonable for the employer to ration it to those who live more than 15 mins walk away at busy times. They don't owe you a parking space. They do owe you a duty of care if you are supposed to be there at 2am though.

OneMiniMincePieTooFar · 07/12/2023 09:39

Agree with PP: removing permitts for normal working hours/daytime seems reasonable to me.

Not having an exception in place for unsociable hours, does not.

Pootles34 · 07/12/2023 09:40

Another option for the on-call bit might be that they could put on taxis for the end of your shift if required - my friend is a nurse and if she gets called in, she can call a taxi with the company they have an account with.

MontblancTheSecond · 07/12/2023 09:55

I think you’re BVU. It’s less than 15 min walk, or you could get a bike.
And more important: apparently there are not enough parking places, so people that live further away should get one.

Chersfrozenface · 07/12/2023 10:03

MontblancTheSecond · 07/12/2023 09:55

I think you’re BVU. It’s less than 15 min walk, or you could get a bike.
And more important: apparently there are not enough parking places, so people that live further away should get one.

Did you miss the part about having to walk home alone at 2 or 3 in the morning?

LauderSyme · 07/12/2023 10:06

I agree that you should not be expected to walk home alone in the middle of the night. Your bosses need to find a work-around for those occasions.

I am shocked though that you think driving to work these past six years has been reasonable for a journey of less than a mile! So environmentally unfriendly and saying you need to check on the animals is just an excuse.

Original poster

ChristmasDoDos · 07/12/2023 10:07

Like I said, I haven't really got an issue with the daytime hours although it will be an inconvenience, it's the not being able to take the car when I'm on a late shift then on call that I object to. Similarly if I'm due to work at 8am, but get called in at say 5am for an emergency, then don't go home when my "actual" shift starts, then my car being on site would incur a fine. There's NO WAY I will be getting up for an emergency C Section and then taking 20 mins to walk in to work, at 5am.

OP posts:

Chersfrozenface · 07/12/2023 10:08

Pootles34 · 07/12/2023 09:40

OP, inconvenience regarding the animals + that's your responsibility.

But leaving the site at 2 or 3 in the morning is something your employers impose and you need to emphasise their responsibility for your getting home safely.

Contact HR and ask what they propose.

Edit: the quote wasn't meant to be there, but the suggestion is one you could offer to your employers. (Edit function won't let me delete quote)

Original poster

ChristmasDoDos · 07/12/2023 10:11

Yes it has been for my convenience - dropping kids to childcare across town then drive to work for one - checking animals yes also, as work is en route to where they are kept. Also, minimal/crap public transport here and who wants to walk 20 mins to work in the pissing rain on a cold wet winter morning? Sorry yes I have driven, shoot me.

OP posts:

squeekychicken · 07/12/2023 10:17

Under normal circumstances I'd say yabu as 0.9miles is nothing. Most cities it would be quicker to walk rather than wade through rush hour then find a parking space. However the fact you are expected to be on call and to respond as unsocial hours changes things. It would be the safety issues I'd be most worried about.

StillWantingADog · 07/12/2023 10:19

Generally speaking YABU to take up a parking permit space when you live within very easy walking distance

however the getting home safely at night is a valid concern. There should be a taxi policy for people not able to get parking permit spaces, say between 11pm and 6am

LauderSyme · 07/12/2023 10:22

I don't think you deserve to be shot OP ! You're right, I am being judgemental. I don't drive and couldn't afford to run a car anyway, so I have never personally had to put the 'save the planet v personal convenience' argument to the test. If I had, I may well have come up short.

hazelnutlatte · 07/12/2023 10:27

When I worked in a hospital you could only get a parking permit if you lived more than 3 miles away. I lived 1.5 miles away so I walked most days, and my DH would pick me up after late shifts (10pm finish).
I agree that it's wrong to expect people to walk home late at night (and especially for you op with 2am finishes) but it's not at all uncommon for hospitals to have policies like this so you may struggle to challenge it. If I was you I would refuse on calls unless a taxi home is provided. Finishing work at 2am is unusual so perhaps this has not been considered.

StillWantingADog · 07/12/2023 10:35

Is occasionally paying for parking at work an option?

if you can sometimes manage to just walk but sometimes pay for the convenience, I’d do that. Most of us pay to park at/near work or for public transport.

experiential · 07/12/2023 10:41

Is your union not tackling this OP? Does your employer not have a duty of care re your safety when you're called in a 2/3am ? Sounds like healthcare and completely ill thought out prioritising environmental issues over common sense.

strawberry2017 · 07/12/2023 10:49

Do you have a union you could speak to?

SirChenjins · 08/12/2023 16:43

As others have said, fine to walk/cycle/etc during core hours but anything outwith that then nope, not appropriate to be walking on your own at stupid o'clock in the morning and your employer needs to find a solution. Agree that the unions need to get involved here.

ActDottie · 08/12/2023 16:53

I can’t imagine driving 0.9 miles to work every day! That’s madness.

I do think for shifts you are on call though you should be allowed a permit for safety reasons.

ChristmasPuddy · 08/12/2023 17:09

Is paying for your own permit or parking nearby an option?

I fully understand your need to drive!

SisterMichaelsHabit · 08/12/2023 17:14

I think you wouldn't have gotten any daft responses if you'd made it clear this was some sort of a hospital situation rather than anything else.

For the sort of on call work you're doing, I think you should be allowed your car when you're on on-call days, they're being very unreasonable and also compromising patient safety by insisting that you have to come in at 5am for an EMCS... on foot. I mean this is another maternity scandal waiting to happen. Is there anyone in Risk or similar you can raise it with?

LambriniBobinIsleworth · 08/12/2023 17:38

I think it's not really your employers business how you get to work and you shouldn't not been given a space because of where you live. I live 0.7miles from my work, but have to take my kids to childcare 2miles away before going there. So, under these rules I'd take them to childcare, drive back home, park and then walk carrying all the stuff I need for work. That would add a good 45mins onto my mornings and evenings that are already rushed in terms of time.

Eumie · 08/12/2023 17:43

From what you’ve put I assume you work in a hospital? Check with your site services as there should be an allowance for on call staff to be able to park when on call.

Our trust has a small on call carpark which is only for on call staff to use.

DragonFly98 · 08/12/2023 17:51

They want you to waste time walking to work when a mother and/or baby's life are at risk. That's insane.

KnickerlessParsons · 08/12/2023 17:56

How do you look after your animals when you do late shifts?

IbizaToTheNorfolkBroads · 08/12/2023 17:58

We have spaces reserved for on call roles.

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