Conceal carry & the workplace

[CaptRon956]

Ok guys here it is... I have a valid Texas CHL and one of the first things I've done before even recieving my plastic in the mail was to pay special attention to the places I go to most often & look for 30.06 signs & other legal signs regarding Concealed carried handguns. Thankfully each & every place I go to is perfectly fine.

Only sign I've seen that had anything to do with CC is a legal sign basically stating "The unlicensed possession of a firearm is a 10 yr felony......" Including my place of employment. Once I recieved my plastic I've gone over my employers policy & guidlines regarding weapons & firearms and it states in part...

"___ are prohibited from possessing or storing any weapons,firearms, or harmful devices on company property, including concealed handguns." then it goes on to say about avoiding confronting a customer who has a CC weapon & openly displays the weapon...company has the right to search lockers & vehicles of suspected empoyees, etc..etc..."

However it does state that employees who hold a valid license to carry may store a lawfully owned firearm in a locked, privately owned vehicle on company property.

My question is, does this policy also apply to employees who are off the clock as well? I've called my HR office and spoke to 2 individules who could not offically answer my question & referred me to our local HR mgr. I left my return # & look forward in speaking to the rep.

My intentions in bringing up this subject is only wanting to remain in compliance with company policy, I'm one of the most honest & sincere guys out here and am only looking for clarification & not assume anything... Me personally, I feel that once you are off the clock, you are not bound by company rules & policies yet at the same time, you are a employee & you are on their property. I could easily conceal my firearm & kept hush and no one would ever know but for peace of mind, I want to be sure I'm in compliance with company policies.


Any thoughts or input?

 

[m1gunner]

If you are currently employed there, you are considered an "employee" on or off the clock. Being paid for the time you are there is another matter.

That is my read on it, and how I personally act when on company property, but off the clock.

It may be a fight that if you win, you still end up losing.

 

[CaptRon956]

well for the record I will always respect company policy. That is why I wanted clarification from HR. If they say yes, this applies on & off the clock then that is acceptable to me & I will respect that... I just didnt want to assume that once off the clock I can strap on my firearm & walk into my workplace off duty. That is why I felt it would be better to ask & make sure before assuming & potentially get in trouble.. doesnt hurt to ask, right?

 

[3dots]

You should have never said a word about it to HR. You're on radar now....

 

[m1gunner]

"doesnt hurt to ask, right?"

Depends on how liberal the HR folks are. You may end up on double secret probation......

 

[CaptRon956]

Depends on how liberal the HR folks are. You may end up on double secret probation......

I'm not afraid to ask & I'm not going to live my life assuming things either.. The company in question has a open door policy for their employee's & they are also gun friendly in that they dont ban licensed carry in their stores.

Now I just got off the tele with our local loss prevention officer who called me regarding my question & he did in fact clarify the company policy with me and I kinda figured it would be but like I said, I just wanted to be sure, but yeah as an empoyee on or off, no guns in store, but with a license I can keep it locked up in my car.

 

[Brian41]

I'm in Michigan but my employer here forbid carry in their stores and even on their parking lot property until Michigan made that illegal.
They also made it against company policy to carry even when off the clock.
I can't say I always followed policy but now I'm retired I don't worry about it when shopping there.

 

[CaptRon956]

Well, If I win the lottery or retire then I'll carry where ever & whenever I legally can. Until then, its "yes sir, no sir, thank you sir,"

 

[Maddog 521]

Texas state law says you can leave your gun in your vehicle while you are at your work 20. Your company can not prohibit that.

 

[finesse_r]

Why would anyone go to their work place if not actually working?

 

[Ματθιας]

Concealed means concealed. Why anybody would readily admit they have a firearm is beyond me. Now, everyone knows you carry.

Your policy is clear - you have license and can keep it in your car.

 

[hatt]

I'd carry. If discovered, I'd find a new job. Easier to go job hunting than climb out of a casket.

 

[wrhk33]

If you like your job then don't carry on or off the clock at your place of business. If it is a very dangerous place to work then I would look for another job. I think you will find that very few places of work will allow CCW.

 

[Smoke]

You should have never said a word about it to HR. You're on radar now....

^^ This ^^^

They are going to have both eyes on you from now on

 

[Smoke]

Easier to go job hunting than climb out of a casket.

Until your next prospective employer asks "Why did you leave your last job?"

 

[CaptRon956]

Guys, for one thanks for the replies & offering your opinions. Let this be a lesson to all, it does not hurt to ask for clarification of your companies rules. What is wrong is not asking questions & assuming thqat you are legal. I'm a firm supporter of gun rights & if you are, then I suggest that you show pride & dont allow socieity scare you into silence.

Peace.

 

[Kinman]

Some states have pretty decent personal freedoms. Some states will rule in favor of an employer especially when it comes to written company policy, if the company doesn't have a policy then state law comes into practice but when they have a specific written policy to cover something like firearms in the workplace that overrules state law. The company I worked for 39 years had a zero tolerance policy when it came to firearms on "Company Property." Just like a zero tolerance policy regarding alcohol or drugs, some people were afraid to gargle with Listerine for fear of getting a positive alcohol test. A zero tolerance policy regarding alcohol doesn't have anything to do with the legal limit it means zero alcohol. No beer with lunch, if your going back to work.
We had one guy report his truck being broke into and a shotgun stolen, he nearly got fired. The way around the rule was to park your vehicle on the street, that way its on public property. It was amazing how many people parked almost a block away or more from work when they could have parked 50ft from the door.

 

[GatorFarmer]

Until your next prospective employer asks "Why did you leave your last job?"

Then you just stare off into space and say "Do you know what happens to a good looking man like me in the lumber yard of a Home Depot?"

 

[Biggfoot44]

If someone's employer is a large company/ enterprise frequented by large numbers of the public on a frequent basis, it might well be hard to avoid in regular life. ( Not going to out myself , but that fits me.) And the rules for off duty employees are different from those of the public.

Asking CAN hurt you, leastways if it identifiable as you. Ideally have your Shop Steward or Business Agent inquire without naming you specifically. ( Putting on flameproof suit for anti-Union hate .)

Carefully read the fine print of all Policies , Contracts , Memoranda , and General Orders. If you find a loophole in your favor , keep your mouth shut. Once it is brought to their attention and/ or sucuessfully invoked once , a new policy will be issued the next day to close it.

If the policy is against you , maintain plausable denignability. , if there is a semi-logical reason to believe otherwise. Then at your disciplinary hearing you can plead to the effect of " Opps I didn't know. Sorry , it won't happen again." . If you personally requested clarification in advance , you will have no possable defense.

 

[samuelrp]

Yes.......these companies trust customers they don't know to carry, but not their own employees.