AITA for not letting someone park in my assigned spot?

A university housing employee’s routine day sours when they find a student’s car in their reserved “RD only” parking spot—again. After reporting it, they learn their coworker, who shares the two exclusive spots, gave the student permission without their consent, citing the student’s past car accident. Refusing to budge, the employee argues it’s their right to the spot and a risky precedent, but their coworker brands them heartless. As tensions rev up, questions of fairness and authority hit the brakes.

This isn’t just about parking—it’s a clash of rights, respect, and workplace boundaries. The employee’s stand is firm, but is it fair? Readers are hooked: should they defend their spot, or show leniency? The campus drama demands a verdict.

‘AITA for not letting someone park in my assigned spot?’

This employee shared their parking predicament on Reddit, detailing the unauthorized use of their assigned spot and the coworker’s overstep. Here’s their original post, unpacking the heated dispute.

Assigned parking is a hard-earned perk, and this employee’s defense of their reserved spot is justified. The coworker’s unilateral decision to let a student park in a shared “RD only” space, clearly marked with strict enforcement, violates both workplace protocol and mutual respect. The student’s sob story about a past accident doesn’t grant them rights to restricted parking, and the coworker’s permission sets a dangerous precedent for rule-breaking, as the employee feared. Calling the employee a “d**k” for upholding the rules shifts blame from the coworker’s error.

This mirrors workplace boundary issues. A 2023 study in Journal of Organizational Behavior found that colleagues’ unauthorized decisions over shared resources, like parking, erode trust and escalate conflicts. The coworker’s generosity with someone else’s asset is a classic overreach.

Workplace conflict expert Amy Gallo says, “Clear agreements on shared resources prevent chaos; bypassing a colleague’s consent invites trouble”. Her insight validates the employee’s frustration, though a direct talk with the coworker before reporting might have eased tensions. The coworker’s empathy for the student doesn’t trump the employee’s rights.

The employee should escalate to their supervisor for clarity on parking rules and coworker authority. The coworker needs to retract the permission and use their own spot if they want to help.

Here’s the input from the Reddit crowd:

Reddit dove into this parking spat with takes as charged as a towed car’s fine. Here’s a roundup of their thoughts, sprinkled with humor—because even workplace feuds need a chuckle.

These Reddit quips are fueled, but do they park in the truth? Was the employee’s report a rightful claim, or too rigid a stance?

This employee’s parking clash is a gripping tale of rights versus generosity gone wrong. Defending their assigned spot against a coworker’s unauthorized giveaway, they’re backed by Reddit’s call for fairness but face accusations of coldness. As they weigh escalating to their supervisor, one question looms: can they secure their space without further friction? What would you do when a colleague hands out your perk? Share your stories and weigh in on this high-stakes drama!