Full question:
My employees and I work for an organization in which we are required to park about a 1/4 mile away from work, which at face value isn't an issue. The problem arises in which the conditions that we are met with are anything less than exceptional. Employee's cars have been damaged and broken into. As well as employees being harassed by others. Now we are all servers at this business and on any given night walk out with 100-400 dollars cash in our pockets. While this occurs on an everyday basis. The area in which we are required to park leaves the employees with a worried feeling when walking to our cars. The restaurant has its own parking lot, however employees are written up for parking in an area in which they feel safe. I was just wondering if our managers could regulate this public parking lot; meanwhile, they are not able to provide a safe place for its staff to park?
- Category: Employment
- Date:
- State: National
Answer:
Generally, employers aren't liable for damages that happen while employees are commuting to and from work. However, there are legal precedents where an employer can be held responsible if they restrict on-site parking and the public lot is the only convenient option. For an employer to be liable for incidents in a public parking lot, courts may view that lot as an 'extended premise.' This means employers must ensure not only the safety of their property but also the surrounding areas their employees use.This content is for informational purposes only and is not legal advice. Legal statutes mentioned reflect the law at the time the content was written and may no longer be current. Always verify the latest version of the law before relying on it.