Supermarket staff now forced to stand in car park in the dark.

JamoLew

Refusing a reasonable request from your employer usually isnt a good move
Refusal based on "feelings" - likewise
You (your friend) need to evidence why its unsafe
You (your friend) need to evidence why its unreasonable
Being bored isn't a reason for refusal
Getting cold and wet - ask the employer to provide suitable clothing

TBagpuss

If your 'friend' isn't happy with the employers solution then they need to speak to management again, and perhaps put forward their own suggestions.

Clearly, the employer thinks it is appropriate to have someone there. Has your friend clarified why they feel it is so important? For instance. It may be that the supermarket is responding to customer concerns about trollies causing collision hazards for cars, or shoppers feeling unsafe - maybe it would be worth them suggesting that instead of one person being stationed up there full time, there is an arrangements for 2 people to go up once every half hour to make sure that all the trollies are clean / in the right place etc. 
Or propose that customers are made aware that a staff member can accompany them to the car park if they wish, after dark.
Re: the panic alarm, perhaps ask for this to be tested - see how audible it is in the store, or ask for one which rings in the security office rathe rthan a 'rape alarm' style one 

If you present a solution as well as the problem you are more likely to make progress

Barny1979

Body worn camera perhaps? Or some appropriate training?

Savvy_Sue

We have a couple of panic alarms: one is an antiquated Doro phone which has the one redeeming feature that you can press a button on the back and it phones a number - in this case our office. 

The other is small devices which fit in your hand / pocket. Press the button and alarm is activated at a central point. They weren't that expensive to install but I don't know how good the coverage is. 

robatwork

Supermarkets could be in hot water by not having adequate lighting in their own car parks - in fact I find it hard to believe there aren't lights in the car park, even if only to cover their own !!!!!! rather than help the staff. 

74jax

od244051 said:

Brynsam said:

od244051 said:

My friend works for a supermarket which has car park on roof. Two lifts - a 'down' lift and an 'up' lift to inside the store, Plus a set of stairs which goes to the street below.. Since lockdown, there has been a member of staff on the roof until, it gets dark. The colleague cleans the trolleys, moves them from the bays in the car park to the one by the lifts, makes sure customers from outside household or support bubble aren't sharing lifts and when store capacity is almost full, communicate with staff member at the front door via walkie talkie - who has the counter (they can see those entering/leaving via lifts),

Now they have been told that a member of staff must be up on the roof til 7pm. With clocks going back, it goes dark about 4:20pm. They don't feel safe being on the roof in the dark as there are some local youth that muck about on the roof plus other unsavory characters . During the day, the first member of staff doesn't go up onto the roof 8/8:30am. Hardly any customers go into the store when its dark. They have shelter as the area of the lifts and trolley bay by them is undercover. There's not much CCTV in the car park, compared to other parts of outside the store. Can their store management force their staff to be outside in a poorly lit car park?

You do seem to have had quite a few posts recently with various issues troubling you - a water cooler which is out of action for a couple of days, CCTV which doesn't point in the right direction, the fact you find wearing a face mask uncomfortable because you have asthma... Isn't it time for a chat with your employer or, if you are simply finding the pressures of everything crowding in on you (and you are very far from alone if you are), perhaps a chat with your GP to see if anything can be done to help you cope?

Friend and colleagues have told me they are bored stiff doing this as there's so much cleaning and moving trolleys one can do.
They have done it in the pouring rain when hardly a soul turns up.
Plus they get very cold easily as its a wind trap on the roof. Some days, the store has few staff in and they are better used elsewhere.

1.  It sounds like they don't enjoy the job.
2.If hardly a soul turns up why do they say there's unsavory characters and local youths ?
3. It comes across as they don't like getting cold, don't like the job and dont' want to do it.

It doesn't add up.  To start with I suggested the police as I was picturing a completely different scene to the one you have just posted.  If they don't want to do it, suggest they get another job or put up with it and stop moaning on to you.

Barny1979

74jax said:

2.If hardly a soul turns up why do they say there's unsavory characters and local youths ?

As youths can mess around and cause fuss without being disturbed or observed as much by members of the public.

Bungle5393

Ask to see a copy of the risk assessment covering this arrangement - there should be one as the duties you describe should be classed as 'lone working'. However, given the likely unique nature of this arrangement (not all supermarkets would have a rooftop car park), I would expect to see a site-specific RA as well, which would outline the risks and control measures in place to mitigate these risks eg panic alarm devices, working in pairs, appropriate clothing and PPE, etc.
Raise your concerns with the store manager and HR, and employee rep if there is one.
If your friend is still uncomfortable - and the company are able to evidence a RA has robustly been carried out - then it will come down to whether or not this can be classed as a 'reasonable request' to work in that area.
Communication is key, the Store Manager will not want to put anyone at risk or create a situation that drives low morale and engagement.

Bungle5393

od244051 said:

Update, my friend and few colleagues raised this subject to the management. They have came up with a solution - a panic alarm. The thing is they doubt it they can activate the alarm if under attack and if they did activate the alarm, doubt anyone will hear them from inside the store. If they do, it sounds like a burglar alarm going off nearby and think nothing of it. As several other businesses and residential properties nearby.

Also, they will access the staffing levels after 5pm if the staff member is required inside the store.

Is it a basic panic alarm or one that connects to a monitoring station? The latter are worn round the neck and are activated by pressing 1 button, the call centre operator can then listen in through the device to establish what's going on - genuine situation or accidental press. Either way, they normally call the store within a few seconds of the activation.