CPA Firms Act on Concealed Weapons in the Workplace – What’s the World Coming To?
Marc Rosenberg, CPA
Over the years, I have been asked dozens of questions on how firms address policy issues. Things like: Hiring interns. Holiday pay for part-time employees. How to convert overtime-based staff to a salary. Partner life insurance. Intra-office dating. Paying bounties for staff referring employees to the firm. Cyber liability insurance.
But the request I received the other day really got my head shaking: “What are firms doing about the new Illinois state law on carrying concealed weapons in the workplace?”
My goodness, what’s this world coming to? When you think about the public image of a CPA, don’t phrases like civic-minded, law-abiding and peace-loving come to mind? In 20+ years of consulting with firms from coast to coast, I have yet to see my first gun in the office of a CPA firm. (Maybe they were concealed….?)
Now when displaying plaques in our lobbies that celebrate the firm’s core values, testimonials from clients and awards for being a great place to work, we’ll have to reserve space among these wall-worthy items for a sign such as the one featured above.
I polled 20 firms in Chicago and found that a third either had a written concealed weapons policy, a sign or both. Two-thirds have done nothing yet but said they probably will do something as a result of my polling on the issue.
Written policies must now state unequivocally what was heretofore considered an obvious assumption: “ABC & Co. prohibits all persons from entering firm property with a handgun, firearm or prohibited weapon of any kind, whether the person is licensed to carry a handgun or not.” Or: “Employees who violate this policy will be subject to disciplinary action, up to and including immediate termination.”
A sorry state indeed.
10 Comments
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Marc – come look at Texas Firms. Probably a little different. Many of us have our CHL’s and I know at least 4 of us keep a pistol with us or in our offices.
I welcome concealed or unconcealed handguns. Heck, I have one in my desk drawer most days. Not because of clients but the city where I live.
We do not have a policy but we will have to look at it because I believe that we cannot prohibit them in our state. I will get back to you.
Where do I get a sign for the door or the office?
Several partners and staff members in our office are licensed to carry concealed handguns and carry every day. I really don’t know what the fuss is about. It has been my experience that those who wish to break the law will do so. A sign indicating that an organization prohibits the possession of a handgun simply tells those who might choose to commit a crime that they are entering a soft target. Even some local banks in our area have recently begun to encourage their employees to train and carry firearms while working in the bank.
Marc, interesting and I applaud you for bringing it up. Living in a deep red state we have been dealing with this for a long time. Our municipalities in KS can’t restrict someone from carrying a concealed weapon in government offices unless they provide metal detectors at all doors, something none of them can afford to do. So we’ve got people carrying guns around here pretty much everywhere they want with impunity. Fortunately we so far don’t see them but you have to assume everyone and anyone has one. We are supposed to feel safer because of that.
I agree, what is the world coming to?
Maybe we should also post a sign. “We only serve law abiding citizens” as well.
Especially during busy season, I often leave the office in the early evening have dinner and return, working late into the night. Regularly I don’t leave again until 12:00AM, 1:00AM or even as late as 2:00AM. As I sit in my office with the cleaners in and out and maybe with another late night employee, I carry my handgun. Not that the office is in an especially bad part of town but you never know (my office lights are visible from the outside). I am always observant as I walk outside when I leave at night, but there are also bushes around our mildly lit parking lot. As a citizen, partner in the firm, and CCW permit holder it is my right/privilege to carry as I deem necessary, which does include work. – Reno, NV
Are you kidding me? Illinois is the last state to adopt a carry law and companies are stepping over themselves trying to figure out what to do? The people without a clue will post signs outside their businesses to not allow guns, telling everyone that there will be no resistance from those wishing to do harm. Better to be silent – businesses can always do what they wish with their employee policies. The fact that firearms are concealed should give you a clue that that might be why you haven’t seen any in firms you have visited. I haven’t worked with you, but I can give you a long list of those with carry permits – they fit nicely into our pocket protectors! Even in states that allow open carry, it is recommended to conceal, so that the masses don’t develop hysteria. Illinois will go through what every other state when through with new carry laws, as well as knee-jerk reactions and the wild west happening.
Maybe it is an “obvious assumption” to you but what happens if a madman storms into the office and starts shooting people (maybe he didn’t see your sign). I guess you believe the police will protect the employees? Maybe someone who has a permit but wasn’t allowed to protect himself can later sue the company for his injuries. People should be able to defend themselves and their fellow employees. The sign in the lobby is a great way to let the criminals know all of the people in the offices are unarmed easy targets. I for one would rather keep the criminals guessing.