Employees told to park elsewhere

From the The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald, first published Sunday 23rd Dec 2007.

STAFF at the Sainsbury's branch in Chippenham are livid after bosses told them they cannot park at the store during the Christmas period.

The employees were told they couldn't leave their cars in the main car park, which has 515 spaces, at busy times in the run up to Christmas in order to leave more spaces for customers.

Some of the staff, who travel as far away as Corsham, were also forbidden for parking in the Focus store car park next door.

One employee, who wished to remain anonymous said: "It is disgusting - we have no where to park when we come to work.

"We were told that the car park had to be used for customers during busy times over the Christmas holiday - but there is no where else for the staff to park in the area.

"I am going to have to travel by bus during the busiest time of the year.

"This is a typical example of penny-pinching and a total lack of any festive spirit."

This is the first year that the supermarket giant has implemented the rule and it has come under heavy fire from employees and their families.

A spokesperson for Sainsbury's said: "Christmas is the busiest trading time of the year and we wanted to ensure that our customers could find a parking space quickly and easily.

"Colleagues are able to park in our car park 358 days of the year and it is only the week approaching Christmas we ask them to be dropped off and picked up or park on a relief road.

"This is not intended to upset our colleagues but purely to give our customers as much car parking as possible."

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