Friend cannot have new locker

Legacy_user

My friend works f/t in retail. The lock on her locker is becoming faulty - it intermittently sticks and when it sticks, she cannot turn the key the first time and opens on the 3rd or 4th attempts. On the odd occasion, it opens on the first attempt

I suggested for her to take her can of WD40 and spray the key, the keyhole and back of the lock (if she can open the door). My friend did that and that it improved things - increased the 1st attempt openings. However, on turning the key, there is an odd gritting noise inside. It sounds a spring in the lock is going. Because she is f/t the locker is opened/closed more times than normal.

My friend asked HR about changing her locker as she is very worried that it would be Sod's law that the door on her locker gives up the ghost when she finishes at 9pm. They said there are no spare lockers! My friend says that there are a third more lockers than female colleagues. If a good number of these empty lockers are broken, three colleagues have left in the past 10 weeks.

Since the beginning of the year, my friend is having to hang her handbag underneath her coat on a coat peg. She has been putting her bag inside a large shopper to make things harder for thieving colleagues. She is worried that her bag or contents will be taken.

Her workbook states nothing about a locker must be provided but it states that colleagues are not allowed to have things like money (coins and cards) and mobile phones on them when they working.

My friend travels to work by bus and has her phone to ring her elderly grandmother if she wants anything as she is housebound.

What can my friend do to get a locker before her stuff is stolen? Not told any other colleagues apart from the 2 HR colleagues.

Nebulous2

Are the HR colleagues on site? Take them along, show them the problem with the locker and the empty lockers and seek their advice. Don't overplay the emotional bit, I'd leave elderly grandparents out of it, but say it would cause a real problem if it broke before leaving a 9pm shift.

I'm slightly surprised that it is an HR matter. My background is different from retail but I am used to line managers dealing with lockers. I would enlist line manager support. Can't the line management structure complete a maintenance request to get the locker fixed?

ohreally

Its highly likely a new lock and key would solve the problem.

Takeaway_Addict

why not just leave her valuables in her car boot or even at home?

securityman

Takeaway_Addict wrote: »

why not just leave her valuables in her car boot or even at home?

Did you not read the op?
Gets bus, need cash or pass, phones house bound elderly gran, needs phone.

PasturesNew

securityman wrote: »

Did you not read the op?
Gets bus, need cash or pass, phones house bound elderly gran, needs phone.

And needs house keys to get back into the house.

Tiddlywinks

Write to the line manager advising that the lock is problematic and ask for his/her advice.

Something along the lines of 'I am seeking advice as to how best to deal with the need to store my personal items without taking them onto the shop floor. Lockers have been provided to keep personal items secure whilst working but I no longer have guaranteed used of a working locker. I would welcome your suggestion as to how best to keep my personal items secured as I would not wish for this to cause an even greater issue should my bag, phone etc be misplaced whilst I am forced to leave them unsecured and outside of my control. Thank you for your help in dealing with this matter'.

anamenottaken

Her workbook states nothing about a locker must be provided but it states that colleagues are not allowed to have things like money (coins and cards) and mobile phones on them when they working.

So bus pass and house keys would be allowed? Those are the vital items just in case of the unlikely event she can't access items in the locker at 9 pm.

I agree, though, that it is not satisfactory to be denied a reliable, secure locker.

ohreally

Have you read through the welfare regulations?

Deos she wear special clothing or a uniform?

Regulation 23 Accommodation for clothing...
Suitable and sufficient accommodation shall be provided – for the clothing of any person at work which is not worn during working
hours; and for special clothing which is worn by any person at work but which is not taken home.

"Where facilities to change clothes are required by regulation 24 (relates to special clothing), take effective measures to ensure the security of clothing. This may be achieved, for example, by providing a lockable locker for each worker."

[Deleted User]

Hi,

wouldn't be a big DIY job for her to change the lock,



just google 'locker locks', only £2/3, stuff HR.

paddedjohn

If not the above then ten minutes with a drill and a few rivets will fit a hasp and staple