Woman Confronted By Entitled Male Coworker For Taking Parking Space He Claimed As His

"This is the first time my coworker mentioned having a special spot even though there are no assigned spots. "

Damjan

• Published in Interesting
• September 8, 2023

At work, where people go to do their jobs and get along with others, there's a problem that can make things stressful. This problem is when coworkers say mean things about each other. It might not seem like a big deal, but it can make people feel really bad and unhappy at work.

Dealing with this issue can be tough because it's not easy to make it stop. It can leave people feeling upset and confused, both in their personal feelings and in their work.

OP, who had been working as a mechanic for her state DOT for three and a half years, had a longstanding practice of parking in a row of spaces her boss had initially pointed out to her. About two years ago, she started reversing into her parking spot due to a close encounter with a speeding car.

One day, after parking a bit closer than usual, her coworker, with whom she rarely interacted, approached and asked her not to park in "his" spot, despite the absence of assigned parking. This confrontation left OP in shock and tears.

Later, she realized her coworker's spot wasn't significantly farther from the door, causing her to question whether she was in the wrong. Her husband advised her to ignore the situation. Was she being unreasonable?

OP parked in a spot her coworker claimed as his, even though there were no assigned spots

A colleague reacted angrily, making OP feel guilty

He got upset, but you're not the problem here

OP needs to avoid unnecessary conflicts over parking with aggressive co-workers

OP's husband is right; this person has no more right to reserved parking than OP does

OP's colleague is rude because he does not respect the unassigned parking spaces

If it's parking taken, he can simply park elsewhere

Neither party is in the wrong for their actions, as asking politely doesn't make someone an asshole

If he continues causing issues, OP needs to report to HR

OP needs to talk to the manager or HR about the parking issue

Since parking spots aren't assigned, and OP doesn't keep track of everyone's preferences and schedules, it's not a concern for OP.

If the coworker persists, consider involving HR

OP should email her HR department to inquire about assigned parking spaces

It appears that OP's coworker's reaction to her parking choice might have been somewhat unreasonable, given that there were no assigned parking spots in their workplace. While it's important to consider the feelings of colleagues, expecting exclusive rights to an unofficial parking space in a shared area may not be a reasonable expectation.

OP's decision to park closer on that particular day, especially considering the challenges she was facing, doesn't seem to warrant such a strong reaction from her coworker. Ultimately, it might be best for OP to continue parking where it's most convenient for her and not let this incident disrupt her daily routine.

Damjan