Vehicular Discrimination. 1/30/2007
I was in a management meeting this afternoon. The usual type of meeting. You know how it is. Everyone was there, and when the M.D. asked for feedback on other issues, one of my colleagues raised her voice, and asked about parking. One of the perks I am given is reserved parking in the building, in the multi storey car park, paid for by the company. Unfortunately, there are only a limited number of spaces allotted to the office, and everyone else has to park their cars in the public car park in the basement. Although my colleague’s parking fees were also paid by the company, she was obviously angling for a parking space on the upper floors, which are better, parking wise, and you don’t have to fight for a space if you come in a little later.
I was sipping my coffee idly, and staring at someone’s office building through the window, when the M.D. asked me about my parking space. I turned to him and asked “what about it?” He asked me if I was using the reserved parking space, and I had to say no, since I ride a motorcycle to work most days, except for the time when I couldn’t ride due to the fractured foot. I knew what he was going to get at, and his next words confirmed it.
He asked if I would give the space up. I told him to drop dead, and said I rode a motorcycle by choice. I pay the parking fee for the motorcycle out of my own pocket. He then offered to pay the motorcycle parking fee for me, and I said no, because it was a third cheaper. I said if everyone else who wanted a reserved parking space could also ride a bike, and they would get a chance to park on the second floor of the multi storey car park, which was reserved for motorcycles that paid their fees monthly. I then asked if the company was discriminating against me because I rode a motorcycle, and didn’t use the parking space.
I pointed out that the space was a perk extended to me by the company, and just because I chose to ride to work, instead of spending 3 hours a day stuck in traffic like an idiot, that wasn’t a reason for them to take it away from me. I then said that if they really wanted me to give it up, could they please put it in writing, and I could then sue them for constructive dismissal.
The M.D. went quiet at this, said nothing, and moved on to the next item in the agenda. And after the meeting, turned to me, and said that I could have the last unoccupied office, located in the corner.
- Posted in : Work Bitching
- Author : thesnark
Comments»
U r so clever.
LOL… he asked you for a parking space and instead of having to give it up, you got an office? This roxx!
YP : Good eh?
thats some good negotiation skills there…
hahahaa awesomeness!