Carrying on the job

View · by **mzdadoc** on Thu Jan 09, 2014 8:14 pm

I'm curious what the thoughts of the forum are regarding my situation.
My co is based in south FL and GA. I drive a co car here in MN totally paid for by my co. I travel about 250 miles a day every day and the only person who truly knows where I am is me. I choose to carry when I'm not working.
I'm sure my co doesn't allow weapons of any kind at the home campus. Not many companies do I'm sure. I haven't checked the policies and procedures of the home office since I don't go there any how.
My question is since I'm in a car alone all day every day what are your thoughts on carrying while driving a co vehicle in the coarse of my field work? The places I go for work do not have posted signs of "No firearms"
Is my co car an extension of my co and it's policies since it is owned and paid for by them?
If the answer to the last question is yes then what about my off hours when I'm still allowed to use my vehicle for personal use?
Just wanted to hear/read thoughts of the forum.....
If there are some on the forum that were born knowing everything and everyone to them is stupid please skip this post.....

Thanks!

View · by **unit44justin** on Thu Jan 09, 2014 8:44 pm

I would check your company policies, it's not illegal for you to carry on the job. If your company has policies against it and they find out that you are going against those policies, the chances of loosing your job are pretty good. I would say as long as your are on the clock company policy applies, but I also am not your boss. I'm all for carrying whenever and where ever you can, but on the job if the company doesn't want you too is a personal decision you have to make and I wouldn't let your final decision be swayed by people on a forum. After all its your job on the line if you decide to go against company policy.

View · by **AFTERMATH** on Thu Jan 09, 2014 8:45 pm

It's not illegal, and there's no way they're going to find out, right? Unless of course you need to use it. In that case, your state of employment will likely be the last thing on your mind.

View · by **gdubya** on Thu Jan 09, 2014 8:52 pm

You would really need to read your company's employment handbook or HR policy manual. I know at my company it explicitly states that weapons are prohibited even for carry permit holders on company property and company owned vehicles at all times or at any time acting as a representative of the company, such as conventions, seminars, or meetings at customer locations. It spells out that violations of this policy will result in termination. I am the breadwinner for my family, henceforth I do not carry at work.

Your situation would depend on your company's written policies and your tolerance of the risk of violating those policies. Unfortunately you are the only one who can determine this for you. I am not a lawyer and this is not legal advice. I hope you take this at face value and not think it is a smart alec or know it all answer.

View · by **mzdadoc** on Thu Jan 09, 2014 9:54 pm

I've been with my co 17 years so I have no problem not carrying on the job. I carry so much on my time that it feels weird not too. Does that make sense? I always have this feeling like I forgot something.
As far as having to actually use my firearm it's my belief that my co would fire me either way. Am I wrong in thinking that a co would want to distance itself from an associate that had to use his/her firearm?
No I didn't think any of the responses were know it allish..... I've just have had forum issues in the past kinda like some gun store owners or Harley Dealers where they treat you like you have to prove yourself first.

I know in my handbook it doesn't say anything about co cars. I fear asking and being told I can't ever have my weapon in my co car ever. I would respect that because they're paying for it!!! I told my boss I'd drive a pink Mary Kay car if they wanted me to. Free is free!!!!

I took my step son to the minute clinic and a hooded guy in his late thirties came in and was spending way too much time around the perimeter and through many isles. I poised my son so I could toss him over the pharmacy counter and kept an eye on this guy until he left. I was glad that I was carrying and mentally prepared. As always I was in my co car on my own time and would hate for them to say "Uh No!"

View · by **XDM45** on Fri Jan 10, 2014 1:26 pm

Just food for thought.........

It sure would have been nice if someone who worked at Accent Signage would have been armed and acted properly to stop the threat. Would that person get fired? Yes, probably.... but they would still be alive and could say "You're welcome my ex-boss for me saving your arse." if they did indeed do that. At the very least, if you're like many people and will only act in your own self-defense, you have that option if you can't escape.... thus better to not need the gun and have it, than to need it and NOT have it, right?

Personally, I say carry. Keep it concealed, but carry.

Caveat: I have my PTC but do NOT carry anywhere right now because I'm on some pain medications. If an incident arose, that would factor into it, along with the fact that carrying while on pain meds is illegal. Honestly, I have a better chance of my Cancer killing me than some whack job with a gun and a fantasy.

View · by **Mplsspyder** on Fri Jan 10, 2014 3:39 pm

It is all about what the company policy is on firearms. Yes your company car is the "company" and counts towards company policy.
From many years ago but the idea stands.
http://consumerist.com/2008/04/22/pizza ... ed-robber/

View · by **andrewP** on Fri Jan 10, 2014 6:26 pm

While my life is obviously worth more than my job, and 2 out of 3 of my direct supervisors are pretty clearly pro-2A and the 3rd definitely likes me, I have no idea where *their* boss stands on the issue, and they'd all be bound by company policy to fire me if I got caught anyway. Balancing that against the perceived likelihood of actually needing my gun, it's pretty clearly not worth the risk of getting fired. If my work circumstances more closely resembled those of the OP, I might evaluate things differently, as it seems like the possibility of needing a gun is higher and the chance of getting caught carrying is lower.

My advice to the OP would be to request a copy of the company's employee handbook, if such a thing exists. The info needed should be in there.

View · by **azonesolutions** on Sat Jan 11, 2014 11:36 am

Your wife can always find a new husband. Your kids can always find a new dad. And when you are murdered, the company president will be able to comfort your family with the knowledge that you were were unarmed in compliance with the corporate policy.

View · by **XDM45** on Sat Jan 11, 2014 3:45 pm

azonesolutions wrote:Your wife can always find a new husband. Your kids can always find a new dad. And when you are murdered, the company president will be able to comfort your family with the knowledge that you were were unarmed in compliance with the corporate policy.

eff "Company Policy". I have my own policy which supersedes any other policy.

View · by **Rodentman** on Sat Jan 11, 2014 9:22 pm

Earlier today I was gonna comment that I took the firearm out of my car in order to comply with comp policy. Actually I DID do that, even though I told my boss, his boss, and the security chief that I DID carry in the car. This all came to light when I was accused of being violent and asked if I planned to shoot anyone. I kid you not. After their investigation I was deemed not to be violent.

Now the gun is back in the car. I had an unpleasant incident today with a dude diagonally blocking 3 handicapped parking places. He was clearly looking for a fight and looked like he was flashing some kind of weird signs, 2 fingers on his chest or something like that. I left the scene, but felt unprotected and vulnerable, which I was.

YMMV but I'm carrying more and more now. Too much crap going on, and as a slow moving older guy I feel I am more of a target than others.

View · by **andrewP** on Sun Jan 12, 2014 9:06 am

Rodentman wrote:This all came to light when I was accused of being violent and asked if I planned to shoot anyone. I kid you not. After their investigation I was deemed not to be violent.

Wow, I mean, some of my co-workers once jokingly suggested that if I was allowed to carry on the job that our vendors might be in danger (I'm the guy at the receiving dock at my workplace), but they certainly weren't serious about it. How did this accusation of violent tendencies come up in the first place?

View · by **Rodentman** on Sun Jan 12, 2014 9:44 am

After the Accent Sign shooting, the guy in charge of the bldg. in which I was working decided to put on a presentation of what to do in the case of such an incident in our offices. I went, along with everyone else, and sat in my chair. I didn't say anything, or do anything. Someone "reported" me as having "bristled" or some such imaginative emotional response, as though I had some issue with the material presented.

So I was questioned about my intentions, etc. and I flat out told them I quit and wanted to be escorted out. They didn't take me up on that, and I was fully prepared to go. BTW, the HR person who was part of this was terminated (I don't know why) some time thereafter.

It was a big stink because some of my co-workers who were asked to assess my potential for "violence" now think that I feel they were the ones who reported me and I get the cold shoulder from them.

I see the security chief in the hallway sometimes and I refuse to make eye contact.

I'm really pretty darn fed up with the whole place, mostly because of my boss who has elevated pico-management to an art form.

View · by **andrewP** on Sun Jan 12, 2014 9:57 am

That is an impressive tale of workplace stupidity, Rodentman. While I'm prohibited from carrying at work, at least I know my coworkers aren't *that* level of crazy/nervous/whatever. Heck, one of my 3 bosses is an off-duty cop and another recently asked me what the process was for getting a carry permit and how long it would take, so I'm pretty sure that those two at least understand that having a permit means I'm more likely "safe" to have around than most of their other employees, as I've been vetted to be so by the sheriff's office.

View · by **CraigJS** on Sun Jan 12, 2014 10:19 am

Rodentman, perhaps talking to your "new" HR person and asking why your co-workers where asked in the first place about your attitude/ potential for violence. Have they had some "special" training you weren't aware off or what.. You may also add in this meeting with the "new" HR wonk, that this WHOLE thing has created a workplace environment that needs to be addressed, NOW. Litigation can be such an ugly affair.. A face to face to resolve this may help everyone.
If you were ready to walk earlier, what difference would it make now, not being able to work in this situation just wouldn't be possible.