Employer has no firearm policy

[winnre]

My employer has policies on most everything. How to dress for work, amount of time you can be late without it counting (7 mins), vacations, tattoos (cover them), smoking (not at work). showing up under the influence of alcohol, and so on. But they have no policy on weapons, be it knives (most everyone has a pocket knife), mace (plenty of women have them on their keychains) or firearms.

So if I decide to carry to work one day, concealed and using my CCW of course, there is no law I am breaking, but is there an unwritten policy that is strong enough to get me canned? I mean I can totally see a memo coming out about weapons and such as a result of my actions, and I do not want to be the test dummy, so I do not carry at work. But with no official policy can a CCW holder be fired or have anything negative happen?

[monk]

IDK, wouldn't the cautious approach be to ask if they're ok with it? I know many people are for "rather ask forgiveness than permission" but with the way many people feel about firearms I'd think you need to tread lightly.

[David2531]

Just remember as long as they are not "canning" you for an illegal reason California is an at will state which basicly means they can fire you just because they feel like it with no notice. Again as long as it is not for an illegal reason(I.E. getting hurt on the job getting prego race religon things like that). So what I am trying to say is stay extra concealed or get permission.

[rgs1975]

So if I decide to carry to work one day, concealed and using my CCW of course

Concealed means concealed, as in no one can see it. If you were to carry concealed at work how would anyone (besides you and all of us) even know about it?

[Librarian]

It's my opinion that asking HR will just get a no-guns policy in most California businesses.

[Merc1138]

It's my opinion that asking HR will just get a no-guns policy in most California businesses.

"Hmm, why'd that guy ask about our weapon policy... better write up an official one."

It's their business, they can run it how they choose, and if they don't want guns on their property...

Your CCW doesn't trump their right to say "no" and then fire you if you choose not to comply.

[winnre]

Your CCW doesn't trump their right to say "no" and then fire you if you choose not to comply.

Agreed. But with no policy in place I wonder what the de facto position is for any employer who does not address the issue? This can be things other than guns too that are not addressed, like can I bring my dog to work.

[David2531]

This is really how I look at it if you can afford to get fired by all means carry. If getting fired is going to take food from yours or your families mouths then who have you really protected by getting fired.

[Lives_In_Fresno]

But with no official policy can a CCW holder be fired or have anything negative happen?

Communication is best, IMO.

My boss also didn't have a policy on guns either, because they had not considered it. I asked, and the conversation turned out well.

Keep in mind that complaints by the other employees could result from your employer's decision to let you carry at work. Do you want that headache?

Please ask first, if it is a job you like.

[erik_26]

Concealed means concealed, as in no one can see it. If you were to carry concealed at work how would anyone (besides you and all of us) even know about it?

^^^This!

If you are legally able to carry, then carry.

However, if for some reason the company finds out you can expect to be terminated and barred from ever stepping foot on company property again.

[Librarian]

"Hmm, why'd that guy ask about our weapon policy... better write up an official one."

It's their business, they can run it how they choose, and if they don't want guns on their property...

Your CCW doesn't trump their right to say "no" and then fire you if you choose not to comply.

Quite true. But if they haven't yet said 'no', then legally carrying does not violate a company policy.

They can fire you later, of course. "At will" employment, as already noted.

[winnre]

However, if for some reason the company finds out you can expect to be terminated and barred from ever stepping foot on company property again.

On what grounds? I have broken no law and they have no firearm policy.

[David2531]

On what grounds? I have broken no law and they have no firearm policy.

Remember AT WILL STATE.

[Merc1138]

Remember AT WILL STATE.

As long as they aren't firing you for being a certain ethnicity, religion, handicapped, woman/man/whatever, etc. you can be fired for just about any other reason in this state.

If you aren't giving them enough of a reason, employers will wait and build a case to fire you. Got back from lunch 30s late, took a company pen home on accident a week later, forgot to put the toilet seat down in the company restroom a month after that... bam, fired.

"We didn't like you" is a valid excuse to fire someone in CA. It's usually on one of those posters in a lunch room or some paperwork somewhere.

[Tripper]

People need to get away from at-will state idea
It doesn't work as easily as suggested please quit acting like it does
As an example; this OP stated the company had a policy on just about everything, that likely includes disciplinary policies, which ultimately means its not at-will any longer
Please quit touting at-will idea, it's not as easy done/applied as said