back to work, back to not carrying

[mr.72]

After a 3.5-month period of "funemployment", I find myself now at a new job with an even more aggressive no-weapons policy than my last employer.

Anyone know of any high-tech company in Austin that does not have a no-guns, we-will-search-your-car, you-will-be-fired-on-the-spot no-guns policy? I suspect this is the kind of thing you can bring up in a job interview, but I also suspect you will not get any job if you do bring it up... kind of like asking how long must I work there before I can take a sick day... Employee handbook is usually not made public so you can't know the policy until you already took the job.

I know there are major efforts to try and improve the current CHL laws as they apply to employees such as parking lots, etc. but frankly these incremental approaches are kind of like grains of sand on the sea shore. We need a law protecting the rights of employees while at work. Make it illegal to fire you for lawfully carrying a gun at work just like it would be illegal to fire you because of your race, age or gender.

[AEA]

I agree, but remember this is Texas.........

They can fire you even with NO REASON, so enforcing a handgun ban in an employee handbook seems pretty stupid to me. They just fire you cause you stink, or you pants hang too sloppy, or someone saw you pick your nose,..........whatever.

[nitrogen]

your best bet would be, when they ask you your license plate number, give them something they won't be able to verify.

...Just sayin.

[mr.72]

i think I will just park next door... this is a neverending giant string of office complexes here with huge shared parking areas. there is no way to identify where one property ends and the next one begins. so I'll just tell them, I didn't drive my car to work, I walked. It's parked at another location.

[TxFig]

i think I will just park next door... this is a neverending giant string of office complexes here with huge shared parking areas. there is no way to identify where one property ends and the next one begins. so I'll just tell them, I didn't drive my car to work, I walked. It's parked at another location.

Buy a cheap, used bike and tell them you're doing your part to help the environment and ride your bike to work. You'll probably get a raise.

[mr.72]

Buy a cheap, used bike and tell them you're doing your part to help the environment and ride your bike to work. You'll probably get a raise.

Actually, most of the time I plan to ride my not-cheap, well-used bike to work all the way from my house and back again for a 14.5-mile commute each way.

[gregthehand]

Do they really make a habit of going out and searching cars or is it something they just say they have the option to do?

[mr.72]

Do they really make a habit of going out and searching cars or is it something they just say they have the option to do?

No idea. I have been working here for three days now. So far, no vehicle searches. But they emphasize (in the employee manual) that there is a "zero tolerance" policy for weapons anywhere on company property and that any employee who suspects another employee may have a weapon on the property is obligated to report it.

Now, who knows what the reality is. But given the tech economy and the dearth of good jobs out there, I am not really sure I want to push it.

[joe817]

Do they really make a habit of going out and searching cars or is it something they just say they have the option to do?

No idea. I have been working here for three days now. So far, no vehicle searches. But they emphasize (in the employee manual) that there is a "zero tolerance" policy for weapons anywhere on company property and that any employee who suspects another employee may have a weapon on the property is obligated to report it.

Now, who knows what the reality is. But given the tech economy and the dearth of good jobs out there, I am not really sure I want to push it.

You chose well, grasshopper. (IMO)

[USA1]

how do they "check" a car...do they have such a thing as "gun sniffing" dogs?

[C-dub]

My employer is this bad. They made us sign a statement giving them the right to search our vehicles. I know there are several people that either carry inside or leave it in the car. I even know of one very high up person that leaves it in their car.

However, I like my job too much to put it on the line. I've got it REAL good where I'm at. I'll wait until the parking lot bill goes through or something better comes along.

[PBratton]

If this is a typical office park with a large, open, PUBLIC parking area, can they REALLY enforce a 'no firearms in the vehicle' policy?

[One Shot]

Maybe your wife/girlfriend forgot her locked briefcase in your trunk and you don't know the combination.
Just sayin'

[HankB]

There must be a way of putting a hidden compartment in a vehicle that some corporate security types are unlikely to discover . . .

[Skiprr]

how do they "check" a car...do they have such a thing as "gun sniffing" dogs?

Yep. There certainly are. Same canine skill-set that allows them to sniff-out certain explosives.