If I pay for the parking does my boss have any right to decide where I park?

I think you should just park in the back anyway. It’s only a few extra steps and it makes her happy. Also, it does help the customers out that the parking spaces aren’t being cloggged up for 8 hours or so.

Like @keobooks, I think that what you need to do is actually look at the substance of what your boss is saying. Is it better that the customers have more convenient parking available to them? Yes. Are those customers the ones that in the end pay your bills? Yes.

As for whether she can use it “against” you…well, that depends on whether you think it’s worth it to park closer simply to stand your ground…when arguably what she’s asking for IS from a customer service perspective. Then, substantively…why shouldn’t she be able to do that? Further, if you live in an at-will employment state…well, you can be fired for any and no reason at all (as long as the reason isn’t discriminatory based on some protected trait).

After reading @iamthemob I was just thinking—if your boss asks you not to park there, and you deliberately park there, it could be seen as insubordination and that would be cause to fire you if they need cause.

I’ve worked in places where the employees had to park somewhere else. I’ve never worked anywhere I had to pay for parking, but I don’t think it makes a difference. Unless you are disabled or pregnant, I don’t think parking far away should matter.

At least your boss isn’t requiring you to cross the freeway like that one question someone asked a few weeks ago. That made my arms go all prickly.

Yeah I get that it is nicer for our patrons, (we are a public library by the way), but sometimes the only spots available are up front. And while I think it is nice to let patrons have the front row, I don’t think it is really anyone’s business where I park if I am paying for it. There is also free parking on the street directly in front of the library, for up to 2 hours, which the patrons use more than the lot. The pay lot is used by many downtown businesses besides the library and our patrons. I am not asking if it is reasonable to ask this of employees. I am asking if a boss has a right to dictate where I park if they provide no parking and I pay to park in a public lot.

I think that it is a reasonable request to keep the first two rows free for customers. Does she have a right to ask you not to park there? No, but it would be wise to comply with her request.

@Palican – I think the problem here is that you’re looking at it as if she’s “dictating” and whether she has a “right.” I would ask: does that even matter? It seems, if I’m being honest, that at least part of the issue is that you’re upset that you’re not being provided parking…and how that may have been addressed by your boss. Most working people don’t have parking provided…so you have to take that out of the equation.

You also have to consider that you wouldn’t be parking there and paying for it at all if you didn’t have a job there. So in many ways this is also not an issue about you parking where you want with your own money…it’s connected directly to your job.

In the end, again, you just have to separate out the substantive issue from however you feel about the parking situation generally or how your boss may have addressed it. You seem to be taking offense at the issue being addressed at all by your boss. However, it’s a reasonable request and if you can do it, just do it. Looking at it that way, why is there any additional issue?

Again, I don’t care if it is a reasonable request. I care if she can legally dictate where we park if no lot is provided and we pay for it. The way I see it, it is a public lot, there are no assigned spots, if you pay you can park where you choose. Yes it would be kind to leave the front rows for library patrons, but library patrons are not the only folks who park there, so the tattoo shop employees could park there and, the lawyers from the federal building, and anyone else. who shops or works downtown. My question is really about the reach of her authority outside of the workplace. She can only hassle those whose cars she recognizes too. So does she have the right to tell us where to park? Does her authority extended that far?

If it’s a public lot – that is, many different business using it – I’d think it an odd request. I mean, it’s a parking garage serving a certain portion of downtown, and there’s no guarantee that your patrons are going to get any of those spots just because you didn’t park there. Seems like micromanaging to me.

So, a little douchey, but all in all, if that’s your biggest problem with her, consider yourself lucky.

I suggest NOT getting into this battle with your boss. You could probably fight it, and may even win—but your boss would have a chip on her shoulder after that and start nitpicking everything you do for revenge. This could ultimately get you fired. It’s SO not worth it. Trust me.

Are you in a union?

She has no legal right; the rest is up to you.

No union.

If no union, then @keobooks’ last comment is my comment too. Yes you could fight it and you would win because legally, the boss cannot tell you where to park if it’s public parking, but you may win the battle but you won’t win the war.

Welcome to Fluther. (And welcome back to Fluther, @iamthemob. You’ve been missed.)

I can’t add anything better than what others have already said, and I agree that if it’s a public lot, then your boss doesn’t own the spots and can’t require that you leave those slots vacant.

However, maybe you could get points with your boss if you recommend that the city / library / lot owner (assuming it’s a city-owned lot) designate a certain number of convenient slots as “For library patrons only”. That would demonstrate that you’re in general agreement with her that patrons should have more convenient access, and that co-workers whose cars just aren’t recognized won’t snap them up to spite you (and your boss), and patrons can see that you really do have their interests at heart.

Maybe it would be even better if you could get the street parking places so designated, so that you and your co-workers can have more of the paid slots available.

Finally, you do realize that everyone is trying to encourage you to use public transportation, right? Maybe you could look into that, too. It would save you money in the long run.

Do you want to keep your job?

You keep mentioning “legally.” Let’s answer that question. No. She can’t legally tell you where to park….So, exactly what do you want to do now? Sue her? Ignore her? Tell her off? See my question above before you decide.

You win. Your boss can’t tell you what to do.

Don’t bother sending me your resume.

Thank you all. I only wanted to know if she had the authority to compel employees to do this. I didn’t ask if she could/would retaliate if anyone ignored her. I didn’t ask for other options. Answering my question with “do you want to keep your job?” is really not helpful at all. I just asked the one question. So thank you all. I don’t park in the pay lot, by the way, I walk to work. But many of my coworkers do use the pay lot because the live miles away, some as much as 45–60 miles away. Public transportation is not an option as this is not a big city, but a small town. The buses start up after we are due at work and stop running before we get off work.

(mod says) Let’s calm down, everyone. And please remember: This question is in the General Section. Responses must be helpful and on-topic.

(mod says) Seriously, people.

@Palican I came in late to this discussion, but the answer is NO, she can’t tell you where to park.
Can she use our parking in the first rows against us at work?
Yes, she can use it against you at work. Did you even read your own question?

Are you (and the affected co-workers) familiar with the concept of a Pyrrhic Victory?

No, the boss cannot legally compel the employees to park only in certain areas of a public parking lot for which they pay for using.

So, they may be winning that battle (but at what cost to their job and/or peaceful relationship with their boss).

It may be a battle not worth fighting, all things considered. But each person decides that for himself.

Re “Can she use our parking in the first rows against us at work?” She can by disguising it in other ways.

I like the comment above about your taking a step back and looking at the bigger picture. From my experience as a customer I know how irritating it is not being able to easily park where I’m spending my money. And as a boss, I learned that customers rank higher on the must-keep-happy chain than grumbling employees.

May I suggest you either do as your boss asks and stop fretting about having to walk a little farther or find another job where the parking policy suits you. Of course you may wind up using more shoe leather finding a good new job in this economy than by doing a little extra walking at the one you have.

This is not a “what should I do?” question. I know what I am doing, walking. I just wanted to know where the bosses authority ended. That is all. I don’t need suggestions, or anything. It just gives me insight into her beliefs about herself. Nothing else. So things like: “Don’t bother sending me your resume.”, “I suggest NOT getting into this battle with your boss.”, “Do you want to keep your job?”, and ” May I suggest you either do as your boss asks and stop fretting about having to walk a little farther or find another job where the parking policy suits you. ” are not helpful and are not addressing the question asked. Thank you to those who answered the question I asked.

I think we saw you question as small part of a bigger problem. I think we were responding to the bigger that, as in trying to give you a suggestion not to question your boss on small things like that because it can get you in trouble.

@Palican: The last part of your question asked “Can she use this against me at work?” When the people on Fluther offered suggestions and did some brainstorming with each other, it was to address all parts of your question. Now you are stating you did not want that. However, you did ask a question with multiple parts.