Sixty-eight employees of Oxley Mall businesses have signed a petition calling on council to take "practical and serious" action on the lack of parking, such as a permit system or a designated parking area.

The change from angle parking to parallel parking in Boolwey Street (near St Jude's Church) had exacerbated the parking problem, the petition stated.

"This latest change has caused the risk of personal harm to rise. These dangers of personal harm are real. The employees are vulnerable while commuting to and from their cars, not only to traffic but to actual physical confrontation," the petition stated.

Sportsco employee Brett Burnes said employees walked from as far away as Bradman Oval if no parking was available on streets closer to town.

If girls were working late, they were offered the opportunity to move their cars closer to the mall at around 4.30pm, or another staff member walked them to their cars after work, he said.

"I'd be happy to pay $10 for four hours parking - it's better than $70 for a parking fine," he said.

Just Jeans employees Frith Georgantas and Giota Sotirious ask a security guard to walk with them when they are leaving work late at night.