Need your advice, Boss won't let me store my bike inside building.

[dirtmistress]

There are certain rules for bike commuters that some business's must follow. I can't think of the name of the bike advocacy group that knows all the laws and rules but it would absolutely be to your benefit to look into this further! Google it and if the name comes to me, I will post it. I advise researching this further! It may work to your advantage!! Wouldnt that be nice!!

[Evil Chocula]

This probaly isn't what you want to hear, but in my professional experience you just have to grin and bear it in these kind of situations.

My strategy in a "my boss is an a-hole" scenario is to keep a low profile and a good reputation while you look for other oppurtunties. You want to get out of the situation with at least a neutral recommendation from that boss in your new job. Just what I'd do, I'm sure many people disagree.

[Fired Yo Momma]

Originally Posted by Evil Chocula

This probaly isn't what you want to hear, but in my professional experience you just have to grin and bear it in these kind of situations.

My strategy in a "my boss is an a-hole" scenario is to keep a low profile and a good reputation while you look for other oppurtunties. You want to get out of the situation with at least a neutral recommendation from that boss in your new job. Just what I'd do, I'm sure many people disagree.

No, I hear you. I really do and I have really thought this thing through and I just can't let this go. I can always get another job. I am sure I have already lost him as a reference anyways.

[bighit8]

I would think that you have an argument that you show up to work everyday.I don't know that you have the right to store you're bike inside, but call the labor board and see what they have to say!I don't see any problem unless the bike posses a safety hazard. I went through a similar thing but it was quickly resolved.I would think as an employer I would encourage my employees to be healthy so I can use and abuse you!

[Dino Brown]

Help is on the way...

[nappyt]

Originally Posted by sladnas

First things first:

Keep a detailed log of everything that occurs regarding this problem. Include date, time, people involved, location and events that transpired. Try to do this retroactively as best as possible from your memory. Include text of emails and responses. This is critical information not only to make your case to HR, but to give to a judge should this end in an abrupt way.

Second:

Keep fighting. Don't get angry or upset, just remain calm and keep taking your notes.

Your evil. I have seen this work. HR can't do much when you have a detailed log and records of stuff going back several months. They can either act on it or you can give it to an attorney and they can act your behalf.

[GP_pilot]

Originally Posted by Fired Yo Momma

Sometimes I like to commute to work on the road bike just to mix things up a bit. When I arrive to work in the morning I used to store my bike inside one my dept storage units, out of sight and out of mind...

Similar thing happened at my work place, but a few years before I was employed. Some folks would store their bike in their office (overnight), but then the company President make an edict that bikes couldn't be stored indoors. My friend's manager would go around and look in people's offices after hours and caught a few folks. Fortunately, we have a fence, armed guards at our gates, and a bike rack w/in eye shot of the guard shack. We also don't locks our bikes during the day, but none stay overnight so everyone carries them on a car rack each day or commutes.

[SAR_boats]

Originally Posted by Fired Yo Momma

Doood the funny thing is he has a big azz raised F250 and a lifted Jeep Wrangler.

The cool thing about lifted 4x4s is that it is that much easier to get to the brake lines. And don't forget bolt cutters for the e-brake cable.

[foofighter]

i have this nifty tool that removes the valve core from the valve stem if you're good you can remove it fast enough and replace the cap so it'll leak really slow but he wont be able to reinflate because there's no valve stem BHAHAHHAHAHA

[RustyIron]

Learn from our friend, the cockroach. The cockroach can live through anything, even a nuclear holocaust.

Bosses come and go, especially puny megalomaniacs. He will eventually be gone, leaving you to your former, peaceful bliss.

Embrace the cockroach: be low key, avoid confrontation, outlive your enemy.

[Waldo]

I'll be watching this one, since I recently had a similar chat with my boss (who I do like and who is usually quite supportive).


I agree with those who say to play it low-key, let this tool burn himself, and document everything. Also, keep a log of how often you bike to work and how many gallons of gas it saves. Companies should be encouraging cycling to work as both a health benefit (cuts down on sick leave) and an environmental benefit which might even earn the corp some financial incentives. Play your cards right on this and you could not only get your way but also be held up as a leader.

Good luck!

[26'er Zen Master]

actually all you have to do is glue a bb inside the valve cap and screw it back on a slow leak that will take him weeks to figure ouyt as no one looks inside their valve cap. not that I have ever done that....hey I know see if he wants to box you at open fight night at la boxing january 12th speaking of which thats where ill be...

[spookydave]

Originally Posted by SAR_boats

The cool thing about lifted 4x4s is that it is that much easier to get to the brake lines. And don't forget bolt cutters for the e-brake cable.

That would be a better idea if he worked in Garbage Grove instead of Anaslime where I happen to live.

[alank]

Originally Posted by Fired Yo Momma

Sometimes I like to commute to work on the road bike just to mix things up a bit. When I arrive to work in the morning I used to store my bike inside one my dept storage units, out of sight and out of mind. I also store my MTB bike there for after work rides. My boss then proceeds to inform me that I can no longer keep my bike inside the storage room because he wants to keep that room locked up and "controlled". He asks me on how I would feel about keeping my bike locked to a bike rack outside. I informed him that I am really not interested in keeping my bike outside due to the fact that we have had many car brake-ins in our parking lot. I also informed my boss that my bike is not a Wal Mart, K Mart or a Iron Horse bike and the bikes I ride are fairly expensive.

So the other day I parked my bike in our product burn in room. This room is perfect because nobody goes in that room except for twice a year. He catches me putting my bike in the room and proceeds to tell my other boss to inform me that he wants the bike out of the burn in room .

I proceeded to write my boss a email/letter last Thursday asking where he would like me to store my bike and informing my him my bike's are not a "wal mart" bike. I explained to him on many benifts their are to riding your bike to work. I also informed him that other people from other depts. including upper mangement ride and store their bikes inside the building. The letter I wrote was very professional and I wrote it to him first out of respect rather than byassing him and going staright to HR. I still have not heard anything from him yet (not even a hey I got your email and I am looking into it) so I went to my other boss to ask if she could ask him about my letter and what I should do? She really did not give me a straight answer except this is a fight that you will loose and it could cost you your job. I feel sorry for my other boss because she has to do this guy's dirty work.

My boss has a personal beef with me. People in my dept fear him and he notorious for going to HR and ratting on other personal from other depts. I am one of the few people that don't fear him, I respect that he is my boss and I follows his own personal rules that he wants in his dept but I cannot budge on my bike. At this time we don't even have a bike rack at our building. In reality my boss is a "do a as I say not do as I do" type of boss. This guys brings in personal electronic items for out techs to troubleshoot and work on, he buys illeagal fireworks in the back of our building, takes more time off than the President of the United States, swears at people when he is P.O. the list goes on on on.

I know I will not win this battle but I will not be a slave to my job. I want to make a point any ideas or comments? I plan on riding my bike to work tommorow morning and locking it up directly in front of my building to the flag pole. I know HR will say something about my bike and then I will inform them how I tried to be proactive on storing my bike. Thanks for reading reading, and all comments and ideas welcomed.

Man, that is just awful. It is truly sad how little respect some people have for cycling. If anything, companies should encourage commuting to work for the obvious health and environmental benefits. The boss sounds like a control freak. Try lobbying HR for more cyclist-friendly policies. Healthier and happier employees = more productive employees!

[Abui]

So what happened to the bike locked to the flag pole? I like the approach of showing the consequences of the boss's policy(*). You could improve the tweak by locking a rusty Walmart bike to the flag pole (or by the Visitor/Customer entrance).

The best result would be a complaint from higher-ups so could could reply "What is the company policy on bikes (parking)?" You could ask HR/Building&Safety the question now.

(*) Before there was state law about smoking I shared an office with 3 people, one of which was a pipe smoker, and one section leader. I asked the section leader to get the smoking stopped or move me. The answer was always "Can't be done, yada yada". One day I came in, sat down at my desk (facing the wall) and lit up a big stoogie. Instantly I heard my boss's chair scrape on the floor as he exited and went to the big guy in the corner office. Within 15 minutes I was assigned to an office with another non-smoker.

[Pain Freak]

Man, I feel for you. I have an ongoing situation at work and have even resigned because of the lack of respect. They are meeting all my greivances in order to keep me, but I'm gone. I've already accepted another position. Stand up for yourself, don't let the jerk get over on you. I love that documenting stuff, should help.

[OCwombat]

Unfortunately, this pissing contest between you and your boss is a loosing battle for you because he has HR on his side. HR depends on managers to report potential problems such as safety, bad behavior, scams, etc. Unfortunately this incident will most likely force HR to make a company wide policy that will most likely please your boss and HR, and probably not you and the rest of the assorted cyclists at our company unless HR understands our sport and that not everyone rides a department store bike to work. Also, political alignment is important at any company you work at. Align yourself properly with the right people and you'll get your way. I work at the same company as you do and I have no bike issue until HR blindly forces a blanket policy upon us. At the moment I store my bike in a manager's office. Don't come of as a whiner to HR, but instead present your case not just for you but all of us in a logical intelligent manner. Your fellow cyclists privileges are teetering on the outcome of this.

[gregOREO]

since other people are storing their bikes inside the building tell him you wont stop untill you see a memo passed out to everyone so that way everyone gets treated euqual
and to his f250 try "accidentlly" droping a sugar cube inside his fule tank

[mazda-monkey]

What a d i c k. I work for a major corporation and we are allowed to keep our bikes in our cubes, shop etc...