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Employer policy what would you do

6K views 60 replies 44 participants last post by  Topsider 
#1 ·
Here my issue.
Wording in company code of conduct, "Except as allowed by law, no employee shall carry a weapon or firearm on company property including company vehicles"
Example given in actual scenarios on website with code. Employee bring gun in backback into office, another employee sees and reports to management, employee is escorted and terminated.
During recent meeting going over entire policy member of managament, my manager's boss said that absolutely no weapons or guns are allowed, not shotgun cases in back to go hunting after work hours in company car or personal car used for business purpose. Even like my bow in the back would be considered a weapon and could not be carried in car.
Now I believe that the managment opinion and the wording of the policy wording don't match.
What would you do? I have some thoughts on what I will do.
I just got a carry gun although I have had my permit for a while, want to start carrying all the time and would carry at work. Although my job isn't particularly dangerous I do enter customers homes and sometimes can't offer good news and deals with sometims large amounts of money. Thus emotions sometimes get heated, tempers have flared on me with yelling, etc, no physical violence as yet. Although I wish to carry the income my job supplies and benefits are necessary to survive and don't want to lose my job or good standing with management over an issue like this.
 
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#2 ·
Although I wish to carry the income my job supplies and benefits are necessary to survive and don't want to lose my job or good standing with management over an issue like this.
you answered your own question.

i carry at work and if im caught i will be fired. its a risk i am willing to take.
 
#4 ·
Although I wish to carry the income my job supplies and benefits are necessary to survive and don't want to lose my job or good standing with management over an issue like this.
If you're going to work for the company you will have to comply with company policies and procedures. There's no decision to make in that regard. If you just can't abide by company rules you'll have to find employment elswhere.
 
#5 ·
I don't know your state laws, but some state's expressly prohibit employers from making policy that extends to personal vehicles in their parking lots. Company vehicles are an entirely different matter.

Beyond that, I don't really think there's much to say. They do have a right to ask that weapons not be brought into their property, or carry while you are on the clock. If you don't like it, quit. If you can't quit, then decide if you feel that carrying during working hours is that important to you. If it's not, then I'd investigate what they can/cannot legally ask that you comply with, if the weapon stays in your vehicle. If it is, then just realize that if you're caught, you're probably going to lose your job.
 
#6 ·
Check Iowa state law (Handgunlaw.us is a good place to start). In Georgia, the law says a weapon can be carried, or stored, in a personal vehicle on company property regardless of company policy. Georgia law goes on to say the law does not apply if it is a company-owned vehicle.
 
#7 ·
Your decision. If you decide to carry against company policy make double sure that you're concealed at all times with no possibility of your weapon being seen under any circumstances. Jobs are hard to find these days.

I would think that a good lawyer could get the guy reinstated. The company policy says "except as allowed by law". If he has a valid CC license he should be good to go. He's adhering to the "except as allowed by law" provision.

As has been stated earlier check with your state laws.
 
#9 ·
Having a job in this economy is a good thing don't risk loosing your job, I work on a military installation and can't carry part of the day either
 
#10 ·
Company policy is a starting point, and it's the management in place at your facility who interpret it. If the brass there is anti-carry, you know where you stand. Read the company policy fine print and you're highly likely to read that policy may be changed at any time. Ours is printed but it sure ain't Gospel.

Compare the risks and assign a likelihood to each scenario:

  • Don't carry: COULD be the victim of a violent assault. Really pretty unlikely. But should you be killed, it would devastate your family.
  • Do carry: Highly likely at some point you would be discovered and lose your job. Loss of income bad for family.

My company also prohibits weapons, and I abide by company policy. I do so out of good faith, and I've also come to the conclusion that my risks of violent assault are so low as to pale by comparison with the problems I would have in getting a new job. It's comfortable that my assessment agrees with my company's policy: it would be frustrating if the two were at odds.

Your conclusion may be different.
 
#13 ·
What my plan is to openly bring it up to my direct manager that I don't feel his boss's understanding of our very large national company's policy is incorrect due to the policy wording and request he dig deeper. My other thought was to go to the HR dept with is out of state and ask their opinion of the policy. Might do both. Will obey by what they say just don't like someone making an opinion to something that the company appears to support from their wording
 
#15 ·
Not knowing Iowa law but if your company's employee handbook states, "Except as allowed by law, no employee shall carry a weapon or firearm on company property including company vehicles" then it seems to me that he may have a case for wrongful dismissal. It depends on whether or not he has a concealed carry permit. If he did not then he would have been in violation of law and the policy was enforced properly. He needs to take an up to date copy of the employee handbook to an attorney to see if he does have a case.
 
#16 ·
You might want to ask management what steps they have taken to ensure the safety of their employees from an armed intruder. Also, perhaps asking about insurance coverage for wrongful deaths that they might be responsible for. Have them start thinking about external threats.

OTOH, like the others have said, check with an attorney and make sure you are in compliance, don't say or show anything and enjoy your job.
 
#19 ·
Unless you plan on showing the thing off to your buddies at work, how will they know you have one in your car? My work has the same policy-- I simply park in the street instead of the parking lot.
I would question the denial of weapons in your POV if being used for work purposes. They can make a rule against you bringing a weapon onto company grounds-- fair deal. However, extending that to your car when not on property seems sketchy to me.
 
#21 ·
Fortunately, except under very limited circumstances, FL has enacted a "parking lot" law to protect gun owners from cases just like this. While "except as allowed by law" may cover you legally (not saying either way knowing nothing about Iowa law), if a company wants you gone, they will find grounds to do so.

To approach supervisors or HR may certainly put you in the spotlight. You may find that, yes, you are authorized by law--with a cc permit--to carry at work. Or you may find company policy quickly changed to delete the "except as authorized by law" clause.
 
#47 ·
To approach supervisors or HR may certainly put you in the spotlight. You may find that, yes, you are authorized by law--with a cc permit--to carry at work. Or you may find company policy quickly changed to delete the "except as authorized by law" clause.
Agreed, don't rock the boat.
 
#22 ·
What I am saying is the policy states one thing and one manager stated different. I believe he is wrong as why would they add "except as allowed by law" to the policy if they did not want me to carry with permit. They would just leave that out and state no employee is allowed to have a weapon. Think I will call hr without giving my name and get an answer
 
#26 ·
If it's a job you like, do your best to comply with company policy...if you get caught you'll be fired...even if you get reinstated due to the "except allowed by law" clause, you'll eventually be fired for something else.

In my job, I am regularly on-site at and inside schools...so carrying at work or even in my car is not really an option.
 
#28 ·
My work is one that no weapons are allowed - even in personal cars in the parking lot. Makes me nuts and even though FL is very explicit that employees can carry in their cars on company property I believe my work falls under the exemptions listed. So I abide by company policy, even though it makes me crazy, and leave my gun at home in the safe. I don't like it, but I do like my job and don't want to find another one, so I play by the rules.
 
#29 ·
It sounds as if you're trying to find a loophole by looking for discrepancies in the "wording". If you get caught, you're not going to win this battle because you are violating the spirit of the law. The very fact that you're trying to find a way around it is proof enough. You may not go to jail (depending on what your local laws are, etc.) but you can be legally fired for violating company policy. This can then hinder you from finding employment elsewhere.

If you don't like the policy then find employment somewhere else. In the mean time, you may want to develop skills that can be deployed as defensive measures. The mind is the ultimate weapon and although they can limit you in what you can carry, they can never limit your mindset. The best way to stay out of harm's way is to use de-escalation strategies, self-awareness and making good decisions on how to travel so you don't unnecessarily put yourself in harm's way. Most people do not consider a pen to be a "weapon" per-se but with proper training, you can get something like a Benchmade pen and defend yourself and not violate company policy at the same time.

Best of hope with whatever you decide to do with your situation.
 
#38 ·
During recent meeting going over entire policy member of managament, my manager's boss said that absolutely no weapons or guns are allowed
I want to be very sure of what their policy is.
Um...which part of "absolutely no weapons or guns are allowed" didn't you understand...? :confused:
 
#39 ·
My employer just recently posted gun free zone signs at work. This includes the parking lot. I may or may not carry mine on a daily basis an keep it in my vehicle.
 
#40 ·
Great!...Now the freaks of nature know where they can perpetrate their sick deeds with a very limited response if any.

"Here I am. Defenseless. Shoot me"

It's going to be a judgement call for each individual.
Weigh the risk and then do what you must.
 
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