New job, stupid rules, can't bring a knife to a restaraunt

[plumberroy]

Here is a idea... you don't like thier policys, don't work there.

Can we get through a single thread without someone posting this obvious, useless and completely unhelpful suggestion?

The OP was simply stating he didn't like the policy, not that it was affecting his life so drastically that it had to go or he had to go.

For a forum that so often touches on reasonable and rationed responses to threats/situations, I see this inflammatory overreaction far to often.

obvious, useless and completely unhelpful suggestion?
Really? part of my personal values is alway being prepared part of being prepared is Having a knife and a way to start a fire. Are you suggesting I comprimise My rights and values for money? If company policies compromise my right or values not accepting the job is high on my list of options. telling me that I can't carry a knife and lighter is no more acceptable than telling me to lie to some one . neither one is going to happen the OP needs to look at is this job worth the sacrafice? Also do you really want to work for some one that does not trust you with a pocket knife? If you don't trust me I'll quit so you can hire some one you can trust.
Roy

 

[Zedo]

Management has a stupid, reactionary, and unthinking policy here.

Cars are "dangerous" and yet they allow cars in their parking lot. People get licensed and use cars everyday, without incident.

Butane lighters are dangerous. People carry them around, and yet there's been no rash of "unexplained" or "spontaneously out of control" fires.

The state has laws about "weapons" and I'm betting it includes some specific blade-length restrictions about knife carry.

Most states restrict, BY LAW rather than through company policy, the blade length of a knife that can be carried concealed on one's person.

"Open carry" of larger knifes is legal in most states.

Your employer needs -- maybe -- to restrict "open carry" and TRUST their employees to exercise reasonable behaviors with regard to carrying LEGAL knives generally.

Or is management telling you that they don't screen their employees and accordingly don't trust them with LEGAL items like knives, automobiles, and butane lighters?

Dumb, dumb, dumb . . . reactionary, unthinking, and unnecessarily restrictive.

 

[elsullo]

The Modern Dillema!

I too have worked some dangerous jobs with ridiculous policies. I have been assaulted, gangster women have tried to stab me, and I have been shot at too. I have gone home with gang-girl blood all over my clothes. Yet carrying a weapon of any kind was forbidden, resulting in termination and loss of pension.

The old-timers all said, "That it is better to be tried by twelve, than to be carried by six."

The mid-timers all said, that if you feel the need to carry a weapon than it is better to get a new job!

So, I finally agreed with them all. I decided that I would seek a new job----IF I was ever fired from this one for carrying self-defence implements.

Bye the way, what about self-defence sprays? A good, powerful combination pepper/CS gas spray with good range will settle a lot of hash---and I am alive to testify...............................elsullo

 

[SeanSw]

I also work in food service and was told often, for a time, that carrying a "weapon" was against policy. It blew my mind that anyone would think twice about a <3" pocket knife but ignore the shelves lined with 12" chef's, 14" carvers, 10" serrated bread knives, or the 4" paring knives in our apron pockets. It is a lame policy and I ignored it. In the most polite terms possible I tried telling them it was a lame policy and pointed out the reasons why.The reminders quit coming once passing the new hire phase and I now use a personal knife openly, and even carry a set of personal tools to fix random things throughout the kitchen. Cooks don't have time to wait for maintenance. I would rather be known as a tool user than a whiner who needs help with everything, like opening boxes (and I open a lot!)

I don't know how your immediate supervisors would ever take to your violation of written policy but perhaps once you prove yourself as an asset instead of a liability they'll let it slide. I took the open carry, in your face, approach and it has done well so far. Good luck on the job!

 

[jaholder1971]

jaholder1971,

Would you mind clarifying what you just said?

I would really like to know how one goes from "Libertarian" to "Their rights are supreme and everyone else bears the responsibility."
__________________

I think I made it pretty clear.

Libertarian thought, as I've seen it on THR, has been the idea that infringement of their rights by a government is tyranny but if they can make the rules themselves it's all good.

Then there's a few of y'all who think that if someone's hurt because of those rules then it's not their fault because you chose to follow them. Same dance you see out of government.

Sorry, but my basic human right to life and defense of same trumps property rights. If someone is unwelcome armed, then they should be unwelcome, period.

 

[vtoddball]

obvious, useless and completely unhelpful suggestion?
Really? part of my personal values is alway being prepared part of being prepared is Having a knife and a way to start a fire. Are you suggesting I comprimise My rights and values for money? If company policies compromise my right or values not accepting the job is high on my list of options. telling me that I can't carry a knife and lighter is no more acceptable than telling me to lie to some one . neither one is going to happen the OP needs to look at is this job worth the sacrafice? Also do you really want to work for some one that does not trust you with a pocket knife? If you don't trust me I'll quit so you can hire some one you can trust.

Uhh....I think you're ripping on the wrong guy. I think it's a ridiculous policy and I would probably ignore it. What I was(pretty clearly) railing against was the people whose first response to situations like this is always to "leave."

The OP was just making a statement that he was unhappy with a particular aspect of his job and there is always at least one person who can't wrap their brain around this simple fact and grunts that giving up the job and stirring ones whole life up is the solution. More complex solutions elude their single syllable thought processes.

 

[Dark_Harvest]

jaholder1971 said:
"Libertarian thought, as I've seen it on THR, has been the idea that infringement of their rights by a government is tyranny but if they can make the rules themselves it's all good."

You have confused "Libertarian" with "Liberal."

 

[RKBABob]

As I sit here at my desk at the big employment agency... where we do nothing but HR... where I do nothing but review Workers' Compensation cases, lawsuits, and incidents all day long... I can put this into perspective for you.

You can't use your own pocket knife because some nit-wit, somewhere, gave himself a superficial cut with a personally owned pocket knife, rushed himself to the ER, and spent the next 6 months on light duty doing physical therapy three times a week, then sued the employer for lost earnings potential, because the 1/4 inch scar left behind on his thumb has prevented him from being the next lead guitarist for The Rolling Stones... all of which was obviously the employers fault, since it will come out in court that there was no written policy against bringing in personally owned knives to whittle with while sitting at your desk. :banghead:

The insurance company, having grown tired of paying $65,000 in medical expenses, and $25,000 in lawyers fees to settle a case for $5000... as well as the employer, who is often forced to pay full wages to a light-duty person counting paper clips... have instituted the rigid policies, which may seem stupid, but are geared to taking away the ammo of those who see every slight self-inflicted injury in the workplace as an oportunity to retire rich.

Bear in mind, those who take advantage of a workplace injury are also working to lower your wages by costing your employer money! Yes, even in the louse only gets a $5,000 settlement, it could cost the employer 20 times that amount in wages, medical expenses, legal bills and lost productivity... and I'll tell you exactly who eventually winds up paying: other employees, through reduced wages.



To keep this self defense related... why do you need your own knife? The employer has already provided a kitchen full of them. Use theirs, and keep yours sharp longer!

 

[hso]

If the written company policy doesn't define what blade length constitutes a weapon your state law does. Most have defaulted to a 4" blade length as the limit. Some, like California, don't limit blade length on folders (yes, it's amazing that a weapon law in CA is reasonable) and some places limit them to 3.5 inches. Check the law in your state and pull a copy so you can point out you went to all the trouble to look it up in the absence of written company policy.

BTW, RKBABob is dead on target. Company policy about using pocket knives at work are usually based on bad past experience either in the company or in the industry where the company incurred some liability as a result of not prohibiting the use of personal pocket knives.

 

[MyNameIsEarl08]

geeze its just a knife. I'd rather more upset about not being able to carry the gun!

 

[wep45]

guests who want to be able to defend themselves

are the roaches that big

 

[22-rimfire]

Carrying a knife or firearm at work when the written policy is NOT on the premises is just a sitatution where the employer wants no responsibity if something happens involving the "weapon". Carrying is at your own risk, job etc. They don't like you and they find out you ignored the rules... you're gone. Otherwise, they usually ignore such things.

 

[turretG]

I would just throw it in my pocket and not tell Anyone about it ever. People are blabbermouths . If I needed to save my life with it I would'nt care about the job's policies. You can always find another job but your life is only once. But I'm not advocating one way or another what you should do.