Questionable company policy. Need help!

[Oldgringo]

Personal safety aside, it pretty much boils down to this: How badly do you need the paycheck?

We have a WINNER! Please give the man a cigar, Bill.

Sorry Speedo, this answer was more concise than yours. Better luck next time.

[speedsix]

...I've heard the attention span goes first...

[Jumping Frog]

It is always a bad idea to ask HR for "clarification".

[Tamie]

The illusion of job security in this economy aside, it pretty much boils down to this: How badly do you need a gun at work?

[SlowDave]

Agree. You are at tremendous risk of getting fired by continuing to carry with others knowing and that policy. It is at the best, very iffy if the "unless authorized by state law" would include CHL carriers.

Slightly off-topic: I always hear this "they can fire you for any reason at all in Texas, period." Interesting. That has not been my experience personally. I mean, it seems to require a LOT of documentation and time. Maybe it's just my company that is paranoid or something, but doubt they're the only ones, right? Still wouldn't want to gamble on it, but...

[Oldgringo]

....Slightly off-topic: I always hear this "they can fire you for any reason at all in Texas, period." Interesting. That has not been my experience personally. I mean, it seems to require a LOT of documentation and time. Maybe it's just my company that is paranoid or something, but doubt they're the only ones, right? Still wouldn't want to gamble on it, but...

The documentation will be there. It may be ex post facto, but it will be there.

[msandoval858]

Personal safety aside, it pretty much boils down to this: How badly do you need the paycheck?

That about sums it up for me. The organization I work for has a simliarly worded policy along with an old gunbuster sign on the main door. I know I may not be subject to criminal prosecution if I was "caught" carrying at work, but it's not something I'm going to risk losing my job over either.

[MasterOfNone]

As for the policy, srothstein (as always) hit the subtly that may be overlooked here. The law does not "specifically authorize" you to carry. Granted, the law does not make it an offense, but it does not authorize it.

But based on your original post, you may have been given 30.06 notice:

My manager believes that the policy is that I cannot carry at work

Did your manager tell you this orally?

[RPBrown]

If HR is involved, you can bet it will go against you. It seems to me that it would men termination if exposed. With that said, and if you decide to carry and they do terminate you, I would either have them put the reason in writing or record the conversation in case you decided to file unemployment. That way you would have a copy of the policy, and written or recorded cause to present your argument to the unemployment office.

The reason I am saying this is they can terminate without cause but to fight any benefits, they have to list the cause with the unemployment office and then you have proof. My son went through a similar situation a few months ago when his employer "layed him off". When he filed for benefits he was turned down because they said he was fired for not showing up to work. The problem was they had given him a termination notice that listed RoF and he also had a copy of all of his time sheets signed by his foreman. The company not only had to pay his benefits, I think they were heavily fined for falsifying documents.

[Katygunnut]

Your company can fire you for any reason they wish (aside from limited protections, and assuming you do not have an employment contract, etc). This policy does not change that fact, IMHO. In other words, yes they can fire you if they discover that you are carrying concealed on company property. They always could do that, regardless of whatever they do or do not say in the policy manual.

As others have noted, you may have received verbal notice under 30.06 when you had the discussion with your manager. This is probably a more pressing concern.

Personally, I don't tell people that I have a CHL, or that I carry concealed. My spouse is aware of this fact, but my other family members are not, and my friends really do not have a need for this info either. Alot of my friends know that I own guns, and I go shooting with several of them, but they don't have a need to know about my CHL. As far as I am concerned, the fewer people that know about my CHL, the better.

[Oldgringo]

Your company can fire you for any reason they wish (aside from limited protections, and assuming you do not have an employment contract, etc). This policy does not change that fact, IMHO. In other words, yes they can fire you if they discover that you are carrying concealed on company property. They always could do that, regardless of whatever they do or do not say in the policy manual.

As others have noted, you may have received verbal notice under 30.06 when you had the discussion with your manager. This is probably a more pressing concern.

Personally, I don't tell people that I have a CHL, or that I carry concealed. My spouse is aware of this fact, but my other family members are not, and my friends really do not have a need for this info either. Alot of my friends know that I own guns, and I go shooting with several of them, but they don't have a need to know about my CHL. As far as I am concerned, the fewer people that know about my CHL, the better.

Well said and (fwiw) .

Y'all think about this post for a minute and then ask yourselves, "why do 'they' call it a CONCEALED handgun license?"

[Lambda Force]

Y'all think about this post for a minute and then ask yourselves, "why do 'they' call it a CONCEALED handgun license?"

Because you're required to DISPLAY it when you have a handgun and a cop asks for ID?

[Adraper]

It always been my interpretation that in Texas you can be fired for any reason or no reason. If you are terminated for reason, ie failure to comply with company gun policy, then it may affect your unemployment benefits. I have no first hand knowledge. We always terminate without not cause given. It's just cleaner. No "Yes I did or No you didn't". I would leave the gun in the truck.

[kjolly]

Don't know about you, however I need my job to buy more guns, ammo and range fees.
If they don't want guns on their property that is their right but it relieves me from any duty to defend anyone other than getting myself out of the bldg.