Page 2 | Removal of parking permits at work

ChristmasDoDos · 2023-12-07T09:31:18+00:00

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?

Cheshiresun · 09/12/2023 01:11

A similar thing happened at my workplace. The free staff car park became a paid permit-only one. Those with childcare seemed to get a permit. Others I knew who got permits lied to get one (and seemed to be a lot of them) saying they had elderly parents they looked after.

nocoolnamesleft · 09/12/2023 01:20

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.

I've received fines for parking in the visitor carpark (several minutes closer to the hospital entrance) despite showing an emergency oncall parking permit in the wee small hours of the morning, when responding to a neonatal/paediatric emergency. The bean counters sometimes seem to forget what we're actually doing at the sharp end.

On one memorable occasion, some years ago, I was working at a split site hospital. I was called at 7am from my usual site to the other site, to help with an emergency. I drove over, and parked in the empty staff carpark. A parking person came over and told me that was only for managers, I could't park there. I explained there was nowhere else to park and I was responding to an emergency. They told me to drive back to the other hospital and wait for the shuttle bus. I told them they were at liberty to call my consultant, but I was going to help the child.

So, yes, I would believe that some idiot in management wants the OP to walk in an emergency, delaying her response.

NoNoNadaNo · 09/12/2023 02:00

nocoolnamesleft · 09/12/2023 01:20

I've received fines for parking in the visitor carpark (several minutes closer to the hospital entrance) despite showing an emergency oncall parking permit in the wee small hours of the morning, when responding to a neonatal/paediatric emergency. The bean counters sometimes seem to forget what we're actually doing at the sharp end.

On one memorable occasion, some years ago, I was working at a split site hospital. I was called at 7am from my usual site to the other site, to help with an emergency. I drove over, and parked in the empty staff carpark. A parking person came over and told me that was only for managers, I could't park there. I explained there was nowhere else to park and I was responding to an emergency. They told me to drive back to the other hospital and wait for the shuttle bus. I told them they were at liberty to call my consultant, but I was going to help the child.

So, yes, I would believe that some idiot in management wants the OP to walk in an emergency, delaying her response.

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Bloody hell, no wonder hospital services are in termoil!

Don't work in a hospital, but have a disabled 4 year old and have to go to lots of different hospitals. Was shocked to find at one big city hospital that the disabled parking was on the second story of a multistorey carpark, with steps and no ramp down for pedestrian access. Queried it with a parking attendant, they didn't see the issue.

CrazyTimes123 · 09/12/2023 05:21

IbizaToTheNorfolkBroads · 08/12/2023 17:58

We have spaces reserved for on call roles.

But if she goes in at normal time she’s not on call at that point - so presumably walk to work, work shift, emergency overrun, nip home get car, park in special on call carpark, out with the forceps.
Rediculous 😂

SD1978 · 09/12/2023 05:27

I'd request an emergency/ out of hours pass if called in out of core hours.

PlipPlopChoo · 09/12/2023 06:55

You need to push on the safety issue for middle of the night finishes. I used to work in a service job and we were given cabs when finishing after 11pm.

Otherwise it is reasonable to expect you can get yourself to work during other hours by foot or bike.

Mum2jenny · 09/12/2023 07:00

Think you only get an onsite parking permit if you live outside a 10 mile radius at the local hospital, so a 1 mile radius would be amazing

LadyWithLapdog · 09/12/2023 07:12

What do you do in winter if you’re called in for an emergency and it takes you X minutes to defrost the car and get moving? Or if it’s at the garage? Is the car a prerequisite for your job? Genuine questions. I think you should challenge the parking when on call.

endofthelinefinally · 09/12/2023 07:15

The nhs treats staff very badly IME. Fining staff attending an emergency for parking near the site is ridiculous but typical.

SheilaFentiman · 09/12/2023 07:36

People being outraged at OP for driving on a “normal” day… many morning juggles only work with a car. I used to drive my kids to breakfast club at school (started at 8) then on to the station to catch the train at 0816 in order to be in work by 0930. If k was WFH, I walked them to school (around 10 minutes there) and if DH was taking them I walked to the station (around 15 mins). But the two weren’t really in the same direction so if I had done the whole thing on foot, I would have been on the 0836 which was a slow train, and very late to work.

Whilst I can understand her employer has to have rules on the permits, I can well believe it will make her morning much more of a juggle and make her more likely to be late.

WWYDIYWMRN · 09/12/2023 07:49

There should be designated parking for on call staff. If parking at your hospital is anything like mine then YABVU for the rest of the time. Like a PP ours is 3 miles and there still aren't enough spaces

Primproperpenny · 09/12/2023 08:01

I hope you’re in a union. The mile radius is a red herring. You’ve performed an on call role for 6 years with parking included. Surely that’s become an accepted part of your terms and conditions now?!! It sounds like you can’t actually do your job without the ability to move between sites quickly and safely. I’d push back, OP. Start working to rule, they’ll soon change their minds.

Primproperpenny · 09/12/2023 08:03

Also - it’s discrimination to allow some staff parking spaces and not others, based on where they live. That’s irrelevant.

Divebar2021 · 09/12/2023 08:11

I think any on-call staff should have a designated parking spot or permit regardless of where they live.

WWYDIYWMRN · 09/12/2023 08:12

Primproperpenny · 09/12/2023 08:03

Also - it’s discrimination to allow some staff parking spaces and not others, based on where they live. That’s irrelevant.

Of course it's not discrimination. There are exceptions for e.g disability

How else would you suggest they allocate parking when there are no where near enough spaces?

FixTheBone · 09/12/2023 08:18

YABU.

I've worked in hospitals, doing emergency work, where the allocated staff parking was over a mile away.

I presume you're a midwife, obstetrician of a member of the theatre team? Literally every hospital I've ever worked. Has had on call spaces right next to the maternity unit.

user1477391263 · 09/12/2023 08:24

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

Well, congestion around hospitals also puts lives at risk, which is why hospitals reasonably want people to travel in ways other than cars when it's possible. OP's employers need to make exceptions for cases when she will have to travel home at weird hours, obviously, but on other days, she need to walk or get a bike; her animals aren't her employer's problem.

user1477391263 · 09/12/2023 08:25

Primproperpenny · 09/12/2023 08:03

Also - it’s discrimination to allow some staff parking spaces and not others, based on where they live. That’s irrelevant.

No. "Where you live" is not a protected characteristic.

SistaPB · 09/12/2023 08:42

Yanbu. Whilst the car parking and on call policies are separate, they need to do an equality impact assessment on the parking policy and duly consider disability, caring and personal safety issues. Generally speaking the policy sounds reasonable but there will be exceptions which they need to consider. It sounds reasonable for you to get a permit for your on call shifts.

YireosDodeAver · 09/12/2023 08:50

If I understand correctly, OP wants to be able to drive in and park on-site every day because sometimes an emergency will arise during a normal shift that will necessitate staying on site until the emergency is dealt with, which could theoretically be after midnight.

That's not a proportional solution to the problem. It would be more appropriate to have a policy of a work-funded taxi account for late-night workers to use if an emergency means they are leaving after 9pm.

I think it's also worth pushing a little on the single 1-mile radius binary cutoff. A system where those over say 1.5 miles away had a right to a permit, those half a mile away don't, and those in between have an allocated pool of a set number of permits to be shared between them and individuals have to make their case as to why they can't do without a car, so that those with e.g. caring responsibilities and insanely tight timescales can be prioritised rationally.

Anisette · 09/12/2023 09:08

You need to present your case for being allowed a parking place on days when you are on call. I assume there are other people in a similar position to you, so could you get together with them for that purpose?

Soontobe60 · 09/12/2023 09:08

Primproperpenny · 09/12/2023 08:03

Also - it’s discrimination to allow some staff parking spaces and not others, based on where they live. That’s irrelevant.

Don’t be ridiculous!

Soontobe60 · 09/12/2023 09:13

OP, in your first post, you made no mention of children - just animals.
The obvious solution is to walk to work during normal working hours, and get a taxi outside of those hours. The money you’ll save on petrol by walking will more than pay for an occasional 1 mile taxi ride. Late at night, or early in the morning in winter, I know what I’d prefer - a warm taxi door to door!

Honolululu · 09/12/2023 09:19

I think you're getting a pretty hard time OP for doing what many, many people do. We're 1 mile from my child's school - he cycles every day then either his dad or I walk home and start work for about 10 past 9. We live further away than most and are most definitely in the minority doing this. We also drop his sister off by car at nursery beforehand - it would be impossible to get her there without a car. Driving from nursery to school would definitely be easier but we try to reduce car use and also think about the exercise. Even we go by car once every few weeks if it's bucketing though. When we have walked in the rain, I've had to change my clothes down to my underwear when I get home. I don't believe for a second most people would be walking to work in those conditions.

Crossinsomekindaline · 09/12/2023 09:22

Well, I walk just over a mile to school and back twice a day with a 3 and 5 year old. Takes us about 25 minutes.

I'm sure it won't do you any harm as a presumably fully functioning adult to walk less than a mile. I'm actually flabbergasted that you drive.

And the odd 2am occasion grab a taxi. Expense it.