Talking to Human Resources?

[SharpsDressedMan]

As sad as it is, the best thing you can do is distance yourself from even being known by co-workers or bosses to LIKE guns, and never admit owning or carrying them. Even if it is borderline o.k. by the rules at this time. The rules can quickly change, and your company could quickly adopt a "no weapons" policy, all the time not having any plan to protect you and the others. Just stupid, but common sense is not common. As many of the others have said, don't be the reason for them to adopt a new policy. I had to make the decision to carry and protect myself in violation of company rules on a job in the past(at the risk of continued employment), and my co-workers never knew when I was armed. I now make my own rules (self employed in construction), and pack in accordance with our CCW laws.

 

[oneounceload]

Plus there's that whole "concealed means concealed" thing. No one should ever know it's there anyway. No laws broken, due diligence to find a policy in writing and finding none carrying legally.

IF company policy prohibits it, no matter what your state law says, this is asking to get fired. Contrary to what some might think company property rights will over rule your personal ones. Besides, do you feel threatened where you work that you feel the need to carry concealed versus leaving it in your car?

Some folks have way too much tinfoil on way too tight these days

 

[Phydeaux642]

Besides, do you feel threatened where you work that you feel the need to carry concealed versus leaving it in your car?

I don't really feel threatened anywhere I go. That doesn't mean something out of the ordinary couldn't happen and I would then find myself right in the middle of a bad situation. It happens. That's why you carry anytime it is legal for you to carry. If we could all see the future and know when things were going to break down that would be great, but we can't.

 

[TexasRifleman]

Some folks have way too much tinfoil on way too tight these days

I'm interested in hearing more about this technique you use to determine ahead of time when you might need to defend yourself. How do you know when you are "safe"?

I sure can't tell, I'd love to learn how. Are there places where you refuse to have a fire extinguisher or insurance because of the same technique?

Yes I'm being sarcastic but there's a reason for it. The logic is the same. You can't predict when you might have a fire anymore than you can predict when some nutcase might decide that is the very moment he wants to take out someone who offended him or whatever.

 

[nitetrane98]

When I heard "You need to go down to the HR department." I always had the same feeling as, "IAD wants to talk to you." when I was a cop. "Let sleeping dogs lie." comes immediately to mind. I can't see what possible good could come from it.

 

[SSN Vet]

Read completely though the safety section of the personal manual.

That's usually where it is burried.

Had to laugh about the Corfram comment.... they sure are shiney... but man do they make your feet stink, as they don't breath at all.

 

[KarenTOC]

I didn't read all the posts, so if anyone already mentioned this, sorry for the repeat.

Does your company own the building? In my last job, the owners of the building didn't allow guns on their property - not the building or the parking lot. Even if my company had allowed carrying, the property owners didn't. So you might also need to check with them.

 

[Blackhawk30]

Don't ask.don't tell.

 

[oneounceload]

I'm interested in hearing more about this technique you use to determine ahead of time when you might need to defend yourself. How do you know when you are "safe"?

I sure can't tell, I'd love to learn how. Are there places where you refuse to have a fire extinguisher or insurance because of the same technique?

Yes I'm being sarcastic but there's a reason for it. The logic is the same. You can't predict when you might have a fire anymore than you can predict when some nutcase might decide that is the very moment he wants to take out someone who offended him or whatever.

JMO from watching and reading comments here and elsewhere - there are some VERY paranoid folks out there, preparing for the SHTF, TEOTWAWKI scenarios - you know of whom I speak. I have worked in many different types of jobs over 30 years in a dozen states - some indoors, some outdoors and have NEVER felt the need to carry a gun while at work. Have there been a few times on the way to and from, especially when you decide to get gas or a coke from a C0-store? Sure, but not AT work.

If company policy prohibits it, and you take a don't ask, don't tell and do it anyway - when you get caught, termination will follow with no recourse on your part. Depending on the company, they might also pursue legal consequences if they felt you put others at risk for carrying on company grounds. That kind of situation is more likely to occur.

YMMV

 

[ForumSurfer]

Given that fact I would bet you $100 if you asked, the answer is going to be no. Is that the answer you want?

They didn't tell, so you don't ask. To me that's what don't ask, don't tell means.

That's how I feel.

There may be no policy now, but that could change the second you ask. The person in HR could be pro gun and say "there's nothing against it." Just as easily, that person could be very anti-gun and view you in a negative light for even asking. This person could voice their concerns about "lack of appropriate workplace safety policies" on up to corporate management.

 

[heeler]

Frankly i would leave this issue alone.
As others have mentioned why give them the chance to think about it.
If they dont mention it in your employees hand book why stir up a hornets nest??

 

[swinokur]

one thing i have learned about HR, they represent the company not you. ask them nothing, because as mentioned, with all the workplace shootings, asking will just put the idea in their heads that they forgot it, and it will be added immediately. as mentioned it could make them think you are about to do something to get attention.

keep quiet and you're still legal. asking will most assuredly get your firearm banned, and after they think about it, from company property as well. nothing is to be gained from asking

my .02

 

[ForumSurfer]

Someone once asked for clarification here at my company. At the time, carrying was illegal, but you could keep one in your personal vehicle inside the secured parking lot. Not long after someone asked for clarification, it became against policy to have one "on or about your person or inside your vehicle while on company property conducting company business."

I'm not saying you shouldn't ask, but I am definitely saying someone here should not have asked.

 

[snubbies]

Court Ruling

It seems one COURT HAS RULED ON THIS ISSUE

http://www.buckeyefirearms.org/node/7199

 

[SSN Vet]

I have worked in many different types of jobs over 30 years in a dozen states - some indoors, some outdoors and have NEVER felt the need to carry a gun while at work.

Didn't work for the USPS in that 30 year career now did you?

I have been in the unfortunate circumstance of having to terminate employees who I considered to be very emotionally unstable. And in one case, the employees husband (who was the local DHL driver) was a very scary looking dude.... an enormous gang banger looking type. On some of those special occasions, I violated company policy.

But then again, I was friends with our personal manager and he often violated company policy himself and told employees that he knew carried to "keep it in your car" as the employee manual was silent on that detail.

Only after knowing this guy, did I conclude that HR is not the employees friend. When the HR manager tells you that he himself is not participating in the wellness program, because it's really just a covert way for the insurance company to collect data on you for their use in denying workers comp or health insurance claims, it makes one stop and consider.

This guy was tough, but fair and genuinely looked out for good employees. But he was also very proficient at getting rid of trouble makers and loafers, with minimal liability to the company. That wasn't good enough for the owners, however, who pushed him into early retirement and replaced him with a mindless "yes-man" to do their bidding.

 

[Ledgehammer]

Check your companies employee manual under contra-ban or possibly the drug,alcohol or prohibited substance area. That's where it's addressed in our manual.

 

[oneounceload]

Didn't work for the USPS in that 30 year career now did you?

Nope, not even when "Going Postal" became a common statement....

 

[VinnAY]

On the side of caution, silence on the issue isn't permission...grown-ups know that, IMVHO. You're going to carry at work, your gonna slip up at some time and then what? Plead ignorance? I guess it's easier to apologize and hope to keep your job than ask permission in the first place.

 

[JellyJar]

oncounceload

I bet you never worked retail. Especially in a one or two man store. I have.

One job both my boss/owner of the business and I kept guns at work.

The one big office type company I worked for had pretty good security so I left it in my car.

 

[Old Shooter]

you know of whom I speak. I have worked in many different types of jobs over 30 years in a dozen states - some indoors, some outdoors and have NEVER felt the need to carry a gun while at work.

Haven't worked at a Budweiser distributor lately have you?

 

[CraigC]

I have worked in many different types of jobs over 30 years in a dozen states - some indoors, some outdoors and have NEVER felt the need to carry a gun while at work.

Well, we don't all work the same job. I'm sure that after the big purge, the company felt that we didn't need to carry at work either. Although I'm glad I did, because on one hot afternoon I almost needed it as an angry neighbor threatened to tear me a new one, right before he went back inside and came back with a rifle. Your logic is heavily flawed, you never know when trouble will find you and unfortunately, it's never at a time of your choosing. If it were, there would be no need for concealed carry because we would just avoid it. I don't know about you but my powers of precognition are not very good.

 

[thorazine]

My company doesn't currently have anything written in the handbook about carrying while at work. How would you go about talking to HR, or someone else in the company to ask about carrying. I work in big company, but in a smaller office. A lot of the people I work with are against guns and often question me as to why I have them.

thoughts? have you done it? Who did you talk too? How did it go?

Thanks
Joe
ps- I searched and found nothing. I searched "work", "employee", and employer.

Why would I need to have a talk with someone in the office?


First,

I'm not going to ask for permission to carry concealed.

I will just ensure I conceal very well.

What they don't know what hurt them.


Second,

I don't talk guns at work.

Politics.
Religion.

Bah. No fun for me.

 

[ForumSurfer]

On the side of caution, silence on the issue isn't permission...grown-ups know that, IMVHO. You're going to carry at work, your gonna slip up at some time and then what? Plead ignorance?

I have yet to work at a corporation that did not make their policies available via hard copy or via internal network resources. You aren't forced to plead ignorance, you can research for yourself. If it isn't covered, then silence is permission. Silence means that local laws govern the matter.

 

[Gouranga]

IMO...you are leaving in 3 months, you have taken a good faith effort to locate any policy (pro or con) on carrying. You have met and/or exceeded what I would consider reasonable effort to determine if it is banned. If it is NOT explicitly banned then it is not illegal. Carry concealed and no-one will know. Do not allude that you carry, do not discuss the matter at all with the anti's that work with you.

a No weapons clause is common in many handbooks. That they left it out suggests this was not an accident. IMO.

 

[NavyLCDR]

I have worked in many different types of jobs over 30 years in a dozen states - some indoors, some outdoors and have NEVER felt the need to carry a gun while at work.

Didn't work for the USPS in that 30 year career now did you?

or Luby's Restaurant in Texas, or Ft. Hood in Texas, or Reynolds Smith & Hills in Florida, or Emcore Corp in New Mexico, or a Mormon Bishop at a church in Visalia California, or a teacher at Columbine....

need we go on? Whether or not I "feel" a need does not dictate whether or not I carry a gun. The fact that I don't know when/where the next shooter is going to appear dictates that I do carry one when/where legal to do so.