Can my employer tell me where not to park?

Question

I'm a restaurant person in California. My manager has told me that I am not allowed to park my car in the parking lot located inside the same building. It is a pay parking lot service and even though it is located within the same structure as the restaurant, the parking service and restaurant are different businesses. 

My manager has pulled me from my shift and told me to move the car.  There is also free public parking in the structure. However, this parking has caused damage to my car in the past and since I now have a new car I would like to protect my investment.  

I try to park in the free lot as often as possible. And do park there a majority of the time but sometimes the lot is either too full or the parking spots available are just too tight or risky to park in. 

This pay parking service is open to the public and is not specific to people working or living within the building. 

Why cant I use (pay) the parking service to help ensure my car is not damaged?

lildude211us · Accepted Answer

Maybe there is a service or contract agreement between the group of restaurants and the operator of the paid parking structure. Maybe customers would get a flat rate or validation if they parked there and ate in a restaurant. Maybe the paid spots are for customers or non employees to use so they can pay the parking fee. Maybe some other stuff too. I dont know.

But your manager says no parking in the paid area, then you find other places to park. Or can try to get a new job. You probably work in an "employment at will" state, so its not illegal for you to quit. Its not illegal for them to fire you for continuously defying the manager's direction too.  It may not be illegal, since this may sound like a restaurant policy thing for employees only. Breaking a policy doesn't always mean breaking a law.

Anonymous · Answer

If employees use all the parking spaces it will limit the customers parking and your restaurant will loose business. If that is their policy then yes they can dictate employee parking. Remember you are an "At Will" employee, not union or contract. You can walk on them at any time without notice if you do not approve of their policies.

** I assure you the other businesses you mention would have a similar policy. The employees need to park every day. If all the employees from all the businesses use that lot, it will greatly limit customer parking and like I said, hurt the businesses. It would be counterproductive.

? · Answer

He really can't do that legally, or fairly for that matter, but he must have some reason for it. If he tells you not to park there, and you do, then you run the risk of being fired for it. It would be like anything else your boss tells you not to do. For instance...the street in front of the restaurant is smoker friendly, but your boss tells you that as an employee you can't smoke there. It's not illegal, but if he says you can't, then you can't. I assume you have tried explaining your situation to him? If that does not work, then you may just need to look for a different job.

? · Answer

Yeah they can and you better listen if you want to keep your job. Now if it's a public street then nobody can.

Slickterp · Answer

It's at will employment, so they can fire you at any time for any reason.  

That said, do you still want to argue?

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Can my employer tell me where not to park?

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