Pay for parking?

Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN · Sep 13, 2014

Here in the Boston area it's a steal

I pay $18 every 2 weeks

Pediatric Critical Care Columnist · Sep 13, 2014

We pay by the hour, about 55¢ an hour for every hour we are paid... including vacation and sick time. I paid $671 last year; I worked a 60% FTE but was off sick for a total of 9 weeks. When they changed the way parking costs were paid for to include ALL hours paid rather than those hours when we were actually parked, I couldn't understand why they just didn't go to a flat monthly rate, which might work out to be more fair without them losing a precious penny.

What I pay is peanuts compared to what they charge patients and visitors. The daily maximum in the visitors' lot is $14.25, underground it's $21.75 and in the Emergency Department lot it's $30.25. There's no exemption for people with handicap placards. Weekly passes are available for $40, monthly with social work authorization is $69.50 and without it's $135. Throw in a couple of $9 (barely edible) sandwiches a day and a person could go bankrupt while a family member is in hospital.

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Sep 13, 2014

I work at a small specialty hospital with a free parking lot (thank goodness).

However, there are large academic medical centers in my metro area that are situated in parts of the major city where parking space is at a premium, so I would have to pay for parking if I were to ever secure employment at one of these hospitals.

Parking space is generally coveted and extremely high value in areas that draw large numbers of people in, such as colleges and universities, downtown sections of major cities, touristy areas, and densely populated metropolises.

For instance, parking my rental car cost about $30/day when I visited Boston's Back Bay area last year. On the other hand, the parking garages in other parts of the city that were less touristy, such as East Boston, charged less than $10/day, and street parking tended to be free if one could find a spot to park.

Meanwhile, virtually all the parking was free in a nearby suburb called Revere. It's about supply and demand: Boston's parking space is in extremely high demand, whereas nobody's fighting for places to park in the bedroom communities that few people outside the state have heard of.

caliotter3 · Sep 13, 2014

Haven't had to pay for parking except for the 4 or 5 parking tickets I've received when parking near, as possible, to my home health client houses. Some of them, in bad, bad, neighborhoods, had absolutely no place within reasonable walking distance to park for the night shift. One man was so desperate for me to work the night shift for his child that he told me to call him when I pulled up and he would come out and move his car far, far away so I could park. Another client said they would give up their designated parking to me, but they never did, even when I told them that I had driven around the neighborhood for an hour and a half. It was like that every time I went to work there, although usually only about half an hour to 45 minutes to find a space, so I was happy when that case ended.

jordiRN · Sep 13, 2014

I don't pay for parking, but there is no designated employee parking. There's just a huge parking garage that visitors and employees alike May park in for free. Fine with me because it's free covered parking!!

APRN., DNP, RN, APRN, NP · Sep 13, 2014

No $ for parking at any of the hospitals in my immediate area.

Wrench Party · Sep 13, 2014

Nope, never paid for parking. Either took the bus, rode there, or drove to places where it was free.

kbrn2002, ADN, RN · Sep 13, 2014

Parking at the hospitals is free if you are willing to park in the employee lot, which is outside and quite a walk. Most night people just park in the ramp since it's not monitored after hours so it is free. Day staff is discouraged from parking in the ramp though it isn't forbidden. Of course the doctors have free parking in the ramp, a big section marked for MD parking only.

Pat_Pat RN · Sep 14, 2014

I understand what you are saying about land being a premium, etc. But seriously, what are people supposed to do with their cars? Making employees pay for parking seems ridiculous to me.

Pat_Pat RN · Sep 14, 2014

Of course the doctors have free parking in the ramp, a big section marked for MD parking only.

Why is this? (Rhetorical question) Docs make a lot more than nurses, techs or the janitor, but they get the most 'perks'.

cd365c · Sep 14, 2014

Nope. 800 dollars soumds awful

heartnursing · Sep 14, 2014

I was in Toronto, Ontario and was paying almost $80 a month... have recently relocated to Miami we will see how it goes here.

I was shocked as well when I knew how expensive it was