Anti-Violence and Weapons Policy at my work

[Kahrry]

Ok, this has been bothering me for over a year now and since I just joined the forum I thought I would open a discussion that I'm sure has been beat to death.

First sentence in our policy: "[my company] is committed to preventing violence and to maintaining a safe work environment. All employees should be treated with courtesy and respect at all times."

The is goes on to explain workplace violence.

Then the 4th paragraph states, "All employees of [my company] are prohibited from using, possessing, or concealing any weapons, whether intentional or not, while on the premises of [the company] or while engaged in work-related activities for [the company], regardless of whether the person is licensed to carry the weapon. Weapons include firearms, handguns, explosive weapons, chemical dispensing devices, clubs, or other weapons."

I know a lot of Texas businesses have this issue but there is so much wrong with just what I have posted. Is this a battle others have taken on? Until the last year, we never had a policy written like this one but after hiring and HR consultant, this is what is written in our new handbook.

P.S. - there is no restriction on carrying in our facility (i.e. 30.06, 51%)

[Teamless]

Kahrry,

So you are aware, the policy is not a legal issue. What I mean, is them posting this in the manual, does not make it illegal for your to carry at your work-site.
In order for it to be legal, they would have to specifically post the ACTUAL words in the 30.06 signage in your manual.
For it to be legal, other than that, someone with authority, can tell you verbally as little as "you cannot carry a weapon on site".

HOWEVER, If they find you are carrying, they can terminate your employment for violating policy.

My company has a similar policy, and i have chosen NOT to carry at work, but I do keep my weapon in my car.

[Kahrry]

my issue is also with them saying that the policy extends to the parking lot. I suppose I just limit my liability by carrying in my truck since there is no formal policy to search my vehicle. We are also open and staffed as early as 6am untl 10pm so I have a problem with the policy extenting to all weapons including pepper spray and tasers.

[philip964]

"All employees should be treated with courtesy and respect at all times." This is good.

[RPB]

Then the 4th paragraph states, "All employees of [my company] are prohibited from using, possessing, or concealing any weapons, whether intentional or not, while on the premises of [the company] or while engaged in work-related activities for [the company], regardless of whether the person is licensed to carry the weapon. Weapons include firearms, handguns, explosive weapons, chemical dispensing devices, clubs, or other weapons."
P.S. - there is no restriction on carrying in our facility (i.e. 30.06, 51%)

Wow, I couldn't get along without my scissors.
How many employees are currently violating that policy with scissors?
Click below to be amused.
http://www.google.com/search?q=australi ... rs+murders" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
and
http://www.google.com/search?q=stabbed+with+scissors" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

(Scissors are the weapon of choice in Australia, where guns must be stored at the police dept, and most knives are now illegal to carry)

[Kahrry]

"All employees should be treated with courtesy and respect at all times." This is good.

I guess squashing my 2nd amendment right doesn't count. Not to mention there is no policy or SOP put in to place to protect me since I am forbidden from doing it myself.

The response I got when I first brought it up was "we don't need our employees being hereos" or some crap like that

[jimlongley]

"All employees should be treated with courtesy and respect at all times." This is good.

Years ago one of our telephone answering people gave out my personal home phone number to a customer, a strict violation of company policy and my right to privacy, considering that I got a direct call from a customer who should have been going through proper channels, and whose problem didn't even belong in my group.

The telephone answering person had decided that I was supposed to support this person, and when I called him and tried to reason with him in a cal manner, he got quite defensive about it. After getting nowhere with him I told him not to do it again or I would come over and do nasty things to him. Then I called my boss and filed a verbal complaint about him, with a written follow up and email.

This person filed an HR complaint against me for ethnic discrimination.

When HR brought up the above line, I turned it around on her, pointing out that I should benefit from the same consideration, and that I knew that this person had had other complaints filed against him, so in actuality I should be accorded more than he because his credibility was lacking.

HR didn't like that.

Seems that courtesy and respect for all employees is only by those of us who do not qualify for some special consideration, for those who do.

[Oldgringo]

"All employees should be treated with courtesy and respect at all times." This is good.

and {your company} might even extend this policy to its customers, suppliers, contractors, ad infinitum.

[sjfcontrol]

"All employees should be treated with courtesy and respect at all times." This is good.

and {your company} might even extend this policy to its customers, suppliers, contractors, ad infinitum.

Then it just degrades to the "Can't we all just get along?" whine.

[Bart]

All employees should be treated with courtesy and respect at all times."

If they believed that, they wouldn't infringe employees' RKBA.

[VMI77]

"All employees should be treated with courtesy and respect at all times." This is good.

I guess squashing my 2nd amendment right doesn't count. Not to mention there is no policy or SOP put in to place to protect me since I am forbidden from doing it myself.

The response I got when I first brought it up was "we don't need our employees being hereos" or some crap like that

Wow, the "we don't need our employees being heroes attitude" is just so respectful. What if no weapons were involved, but say, in a fire, you risked serious injury and saved the company a whole lot of money ---how you think that kind of heroics would go down?

[WildBill]

"All employees should be treated with courtesy and respect at all times." This is good.

I guess squashing my 2nd amendment right doesn't count. Not to mention there is no policy or SOP put in to place to protect me since I am forbidden from doing it myself.

The response I got when I first brought it up was "we don't need our employees being hereos" or some crap like that

Wow, the "we don't need our employees being heroes attitude" is just so respectful. What if no weapons were involved, but say, in a fire, you risked serious injury and saved the company a whole lot of money ---how you think that kind of heroics would go down?

You might get an attaboy and a free pass to a movie. If you expect to be carried around on the shoulders of the company managers while your co-workers applaud then you are fooling yourself. That only happens in the movies.

[WildBill]

Is this a battle others have taken on? Until the last year, we never had a policy written like this one but after hiring and HR consultant, this is what is written in our new handbook.

Once policies have been set, it is difficult to have them rescinded. I have never heard of anyone winning this battle. If you want to fight it, then more power to you. I wish you success.

[KaiserB]

my issue is also with them saying that the policy extends to the parking lot. I suppose I just limit my liability by carrying in my truck since there is no formal policy to search my vehicle. We are also open and staffed as early as 6am untl 10pm so I have a problem with the policy extenting to all weapons including pepper spray and tasers.

Where I work there is a similar policy and it not only extends to the parking area (whether public, private, or leased) but also to any vehicle used to commute to/from my place of work.

[ScottDLS]

my issue is also with them saying that the policy extends to the parking lot. I suppose I just limit my liability by carrying in my truck since there is no formal policy to search my vehicle. We are also open and staffed as early as 6am untl 10pm so I have a problem with the policy extenting to all weapons including pepper spray and tasers.

Where I work there is a similar policy and it not only extends to the parking area (whether public, private, or leased) but also to any vehicle used to commute to/from my place of work.

Wonder why they don't just finish the thought and extend it to your home too... I often "telecommute" and wonder if my company's weapons policy applies to my home office...