Cant mention guns at work?

[hankintexas]

Had a heck of a day at work. I am a manager at a large security company. I was called by HR and informed that I was over heard talking about guns at work and it will not be tolerated in the work place. When I asked if someone had reported me making a threat, I was told no. We are not allowed to talk about firearms in the work place. My company has a zero tolerance policy and even mentioning a firearm is enough for termination according to the HR Department.

Has anyone heard of such a thing? This is probably going to end up with me being terminated....... everyone comes to me to discuss firearms and shooting. Now I am being told to write up anyone who approches me with "gun talk".

Needless to say, today I begin hunting for a new job.

[SewTexas]

at a security company??? you have got to be kidding

[Syntyr]

Okay wow...that bites! Is your employer .06/.07/written notification posted? Seems kind of excessive.

I work for a bank and they are by the HR book strict but I talk to other employees about guns all the time. In fact I am trying to setup an employee skeet team.

best of luck!

[RedRaiderCHL]

Id say that's encroaching on first amendment rights. Yes its their business, their building, but you aren't making statements to the public about firearms that reflect the companies opinion on firearms, and you aren't harassing anyone. Id say that's a civil lawsuit waiting to happen.. one that, that company shall lose miserably.

[hankintexas]

at a security company??? you have got to be kidding

Yes. A very LARGE security company.........

[Lynyrd]

at a security company??? you have got to be kidding

Yes. A very LARGE security company.........

Well, I don't ever want them handling security for me, or anyplace I might go to.

[MikeyJ]

1A doesn't apply to a private employer. They can regulate what topics are not to be discussed at work during work hours... usually topics that will make other people feel uncomfortable... like religion, politics, etc. That said, if someone wants to talk during a break or at lunch, the employer can't control that... but that might not stop them from firing you. You might have legal recourse, though.

[bear94]

We talk about guns all the time at work. I couldn't imagine this being an issue.

[Oldgringo]

Who does HR report to? Get your resume up and out.

[wheelgun1958]

Bomb and hijack are verboten words where I work.

[C-dub]

At my previous position I was aware of several folks that had their CHLs and we frequently talked about the laws and stuff. Several of them are hunters and some would do matches like IDPA or 3-gun and other stuff. I don't know how instrumental I was in getting them to update their policies regarding firearms in vehicles on the property, but I forwarded the policy to a few local representatives and IIRC the TSRA. AFAIK, they still have no idea how these folks found out about their policy, but it changed and I don't have any reason to believe that had anything to do with me being one of the several dozen employees laid off last year.

I've been at my current position for about 8 months now and haven't uttered one word about firearms to anyone. I don't even talk about politics except in general terms. No one knows which way I lean on that subject. I thought since I was having to start over I might as well do it with a completely clean slate. I know one of my close co-workers is a hunter, but I still haven't talked firearms with him yet either. It's been kinda nice actually.

Between ya'll here and my BIL and other friends outside of work I get plenty of firearms talk. Besides, the industry I'm in is mostly run by liberals, although it's not as bad as the security company the OP works for. Well, my employer won't allow any pocket knife to be carried at work.

[Soccerdad1995]

Unfortunately, the first amendment doesn't protect you from private employers, and Texas is an at-will state, so the best choice is probably to find another employer.

Being the smart aleck I am, if I was the OP, I might be tempted to ask the HR rep to clarify the weapons policy. Then report them to their supervisor if they use the word "gun".

I'd also really like to know the name of this company so I can avoid doing business with them, but fully understand if the OP doesn't want to share that info. I hope it's not ADT, or I need to change my security provider.

[JerryK]

I am guessing Securitias

[Abraham]

The potential list of words that make others and me "uncomfortable" is endless.

I'm uncomfortable when I hear the ugly words, liberal, socialist, communist, Clinton (either one) safe space, diverse, inclusiveness, undocumented workers, sustainable, and yes, "uncomfortable". And, let's not forget the name, B Sanders, whose mispronunciation of the simple word, "I" - that he always blurts out as "Oy" rather than sounding like "Aye" makes me uncomfortable. It makes me shudder with contempt.

Yeah, that list (but not limited to...) of words always me uncomfortable, but guess what?

Unlike the company the OP works for, I can handle so-called uncomfortable words. When I hear them, I don't crumple into a fetal position and/or immediately head for the "Panic Room". I get a bit annoyed when I hear them, but that's all.

I'm certain some liberal cretin has influenced the word/thought police also referred to as his company's HR policy.

[ELB]

...and even mentioning a firearm is enough for termination according to the HR Department....

Is that actually in the written policies? If not HR is the one overstepping.

But they are more adept at the bureaucratic wrangling for firing someone than most, so if you choose to enter the fray, do your homework.

And I agree that this is chicken-hearted nonsense.

ETA: If you have been chatting about guns with your coworkers for a long time and this has just now come up, your problem may not actually be about guns -- that may just be someone's way of getting at you. There may be something else afoot.