zero hour contracts and paying for parking

cupid07

Hi everyone, I was recently offered a role with the council on a zero hour contract. The role is 15 miles from where i live and in quite a rural area so the transport links are quite poor, meaning i will take my car.

I enquired about where i should park and they told me on their council run pay and display carpark which is a flatrate of £5 for 3-24hours.

The job is paying £7.50. So if i'm called in to work for 3 hours, this equates to £22.50, minus 5 for their parking fees. So 22% of my wage for that day will go toward parking?! There is no reduced rate for casual/relief workers.

I guess my question is, is it worth it? 22% spent on parking doesn't even take into account my petrol costs - I feel I will be left with not alot Since they own the carpark, they could at least make things a little better for those of us struggling out here.

mademoiselle_2

Cupid -
you have my sympathies, zero hours contracts are heinous and it's easy to feel exploited if you are called in to work, with petrol costs, for only 3 hours pay.

However, as one who hates and really avoids paying parking charges, I would have thought the answer is simple: find a road nearby to park on that isn't double yellow lines or an obstruction, and walk in to work. You say it's in a rural area, it shouldn't be too difficult to find somewhere to park? It will save you £5 and make you fitter :-)

cupid07

unfortunately i have google mapped the entire area, there are "30 minute" parking restrictions down all the roads surrounding the area. All other areas where parking is available is residential where permits are needed. This is literally the only place to park

Alter_ego

Try "park on my drive" or similar

cupid07

Done that too, tried just park and another one, the nearest parking is about 6 miles away it seems not many rural areas are offering their drives up!

Undervalued

cupid07 wrote: »

Done that too, tried just park and another one, the nearest parking is about 6 miles away it seems not many rural areas are offering their drives up!

They may not be advertising as they feel there is little or no demand. You could try putting leaflets through some doors.

Otherwise I sympathise but vast numbers of people are in the same position. The council is no doubt under pressure to maximise resources by charging the going rate for parking.

getmore4less

Zero hours.

Only accept a min amount time for a work offer, you decide 4,5,6hours and turn down the others.

With parking and 30m round trip your first hr or two are working for free.

if the parking ticket is 24hours you could accept split shift, afternoon followed by a morning.

Another trick although may not be handy is drive to a public transport stop that has free parking. might take a bit longer and then you have bus fares to pay.

getmore4less

if they are giving you regular work do they have a season ticket that might be a bit cheaper?

out council the cheapest day rate(walking into town) is £3 £4 for a closer one
annual mon-fri £583

also check for any short stay, we have a 3hr for £2 one(£8 all day).

custardy

bike in the boot and cycle the 6 miles?

agrinnall

I'm struggling to equate the rural nature of the OP's place of work with the parking restrictions and charges. Could you give us a postcode so we could see for ourselves?

cupid07

agrinnall wrote: »

I'm struggling to equate the rural nature of the OP's place of work with the parking restrictions and charges. Could you give us a postcode so we could see for ourselves?

Are you saying that because the area is rural, councils don't put up parking restrictions? what sort of nonsense is that?