Has anyone had success with challenging a workplace policy prohibiting guns? My place of employment allows customers to carry, but prohibits employees the right. Our state has a good LTC program, requiring background and proficiency to obtain a license to carry (concealed + open). If an employee has met the legal requirements, and in my case, further training to be instructor certified, there should be an avenue to receive approval to carry.
I agree with policies that customers and employees must not become aware of the carrying to avoid personal bias to invade the workplace. I agree with requiring legal parameters be met, and maybe even a tenure requirement to allow the company to come to know the individual better. Regardless of what the hoops are, they should exist to be jumped through and obtain permission.
I am of the understanding that there has been legal arguments regarding potential liability of the employer prohibiting the right to employees, but not providing alternative security measures. In this case, the business welcomes customers to carry, and hosts after hours events for 2nd Amendment related groups. Yet… denies the rights to employees.
I am looking to get pointed to a source of information from which to assemble and state my case pursuant to a policy revision. Legal precedents, company liabilities, etc. Any helpful direction would be appreciated.
I haven’t had to challenge the no gun policy at work since I started carrying, but I would suggest finding out why the owner/executives made that rule. Knowing their exact objectives will help you hone your discussion points.
A bad experience with one employee would need different handling than the added cost of insurance for the company if staff carried.
I’ve heard from a lot of people that the reason their company doesn’t allow them to carry is because of what it does to the company’s insurance rates. If that’s the deciding factor, it will be good to be able to address it directly.
Has anyone else challenged the no-gun policy at their workplace?
That raises an interesting question. Statistically speaking, from an insurer’s perspective, is it more likely to incur liability for a workplace shooting attributed to a licensed conceal carry employee, or an outsider who would have free reign to do as they wish because of company policy dictated by the carrier? Is there anybody on here with experience in Contingent Liabilities?
Assuming you are talking about a private employer, there are probably no legal arguments that could force them to change their policy. That means you need to come up with the facts that support your argument that the business and the patrons would be safer if properly trained employees were armed.
I went round and round with my HR department when they told me to put signs on the front doors of the buildings (I am the facilities department). I pointed out the fact that employees were already prohibited from bringing a weapon in the building because of company written policies.
So the signs had to be for visitors not employees. After the HR people tried to intimidate me (with no knowledge of the state law) I told them no I would not post them because we leased the space and were not the sole occupants of the building.
Our landlords (yes more than one) agreed with me and would not post the buildings entrances with no weapons signs on the advice of their law firm.
So they bought signs anyway and put them up at the main entrance to our space (but not at every public entrance). Oh did I forget to say our corporate HQ is in Sunnyvale California?
Some people just will not listen to reason even with presented with laws in writing.
I’ve been self employed for the most part since I got out of the service so that’s never been an issue. I have had students and known others however that ran into similar problems with workplace policies.
In general, I know some have been successful while others have not. Generally the larger the company the less success you will have at challenging such a policy.
In many cases it’s insurance restrictions that the employer cites whether true or not, and when true then there is a real practical concern on their part.
You can get a feel for how open they might be by simply learning the culture, talking with the higher up’s in general about gun rights, carry rights, hunting, shooting in general and if you feel like there’s an opening there then you might do well approaching them.
Understand though that if they are not open to it being overly insistent on trying to change it is likely to have a negative impact on your future with the company so it’s not completely without risk.
I know others that have made the decision to ignore the policy and just make dead sure they are carrying in a manner in which they will not be caught.
I know of some who have also been given a wink and a nod from the management to carry as long as they absolutely keep it concealed and keep their mouths shut so as not to stir up problems with other employees or between management and other employees.
Personally I think it should be addressed legislatively holding the employer legally responsible for any casualties that might result if they insist on a “gun free zone” at work.
My company policy doesn’t stop at firearms. It goes as far as state weapons of any kind and listing a few as examples. The policy also lists out that we cannot even carry a pocket knife that is not intended for administrative purposes (i.e. opening letters, packages, etc.). I do not carry a firearm into the office. However I do keep a steak knife provided by them from the break room at my desk. I find it funny how we can have steak knives etc but I am not supposed to even be carrying a pocket knife. I work for a global company. As @WildRose said
I don’t really have the resources to go up against my company. Since I do need my paycheck I don’t want to bring undue random checks on myself to see if I am carrying anything because the company policies give them that right as they are written. So I just don’t say anything and quietly lock my EDC up in my truck when I get to the office. Do I like the policy? No. Do I think I can get the policy changed on this? Also no.
I should note to get into my office you need an RFID key card to get through the doors. Not that this is full proof as all it takes is something simple like someone holding the door for another. The building my office is in doesn’t have any signage stating that carrying is prohibited.
To all: Just keep in mind that if you choose to violate that policy, and I probably would, the key is total concealment and keeping your mouth shut. Even someone you think of as a friend can turn on you in a flash over even a mild argument costing you your job.
I would probably at a minimum carry a deeply concealed fixed blade knife that I could get to and employ unnoticed in the event of an emergency.
For those who work under similar policies but can’t afford the risk of getting caught I’d strongly suggest getting some training in “environmental weapons” common things found in every home, office, store etc that can be used as weapons if necessary.
learn to identify them and how to effectively employ them in defense when necessary. You need to also then get in the normal practice of looking for and identifying them as you go about your daily lives and practice using them when you can make the time.
The day they passed the concealed carry bill in Illinois , my company sent out a email saying no concealed carry at all, no guns , no knifes, no pepper spray. We work in the field , we used to go to the shop maybe once a month. Carried every day. My boss asked me if I carried. Asked him why does it show? He said no just wanted to make sure i wasnt. Asked me again, told him the point of carrying is to be concealed so people dont know, if I told him that would take away my advantage. He didnt like that . In Illinois they can post a sign on their building , but telling me I can’t carry while I’m on the clock in the field , they can go scratch. When I switched companies first thing I asked in the interview was how they felt about concealed carry. They said as long as I had a permit and didnt break any laws it was fine .