Dislike Dangerous Female Co Worker?
So I work with a woman of around 40 years of age, who frequently speaks in third grade ebonics, recently told other co workers that she carries a gun to work. I am not sure if our company has a written policy about carrying guns to work, but would I not have any rights whatsoever? She is clearly unstable (mentally), lives with her grandmother (can't take care of herself), does not own a car, but takes 2 buses from a very dangerous section of town everyday (Not responsible), has a poor demeanor (frequently has her head down at work, never feels well, calls out sick). I think I could be experiencing reverse discriminiation at work because no one does anything about her behavior, and apparently, nothing has been done about her carrying a firearm to work. Do I smell lawsuit?
Answer:
Not even close. Depending on the state you live in she may or may not be required to carry a license to carry a firearm. As long as she is in complience with the laws there may be little your employer can legally do. One question that will quickly come up is whether or not you have seen this gun. Based on write up it would appear that you haven't, only heard her claim that she has one. In court it would be up to you to PROVE that she actually had a gun and was illegally bringing it to work. You are also expected to take reasonable measures using your company policy to try and resolve the matter internally.
Some other factors to consider are the following: Taking the bus is not irresponsible in any way, that's why they exist. Especially in a dangerous section of town it may be more reasonable to take a bus than to leave a car open to vandalism. Such a dangerous area of town may even justify the desire or need to carry protection.
This is one lawsuit that's never going to happen. Should you decide to go through with it you will lose as it looks more like your trying to smell the money instead of correcting a wrong.
Definately talk to your HR department.
Why is ebonics so important? She sounds overwhelmed and traumatized. Get help for your fellow worker.
I work for the state of Maryland and unless you are a sworn officer, carying any sort of firearm, even with a carry permit, on the property is a felony.
If you hear people saying she has a gun, call the police or the building security.
Document everything, because at the first chance, she will try to get you fired.
You need to take your concerns about this woman to your supervisor and/or owner of the company. Do not go over your supervisors head on this though, that could be a bad thing for you. Just talk to the supervisor, explain as you have here and let her know you are very uncomfortable with this co-worker, her work ethics and her firearm on her person. I don't know why her taking a bus would make her irresponsible and maybe she lives with her grandmother and is tired and/or calls in sick because she cares for an invalid grandmother. She may also carry a gun because of the neighborhood and having to take a bus in that neighborhood. Do you know this womans personal story or do you just dislike her?
Either way, unless she has a permit to carry a concealed weapon and your state has a concealed weapon law, she may be breaking the law by carrying it, if she is.
So, talk to your super, take a list of everything that makes you uncomfortable. If nothing is done within 3-7 days then ask your super what has been or is being done to protect the rest of the staff. If you are not satisfied with the answer then you should move on to her boss and so on and so on. If this woman is unstable then it would be dangerous for her to have a gun in the workplace. I do not believe you would have a law suit, unfortunately, as no laws have been broken YET that you know of. If there are concealed weapons laws in your state then you would have to know that she does not have a permit, then she would be breaking that law and you could have her arrested yourself. Just call a policeman annonomousoy and let themknow you saw this woman looking for something in her purse by a bus stop and she has a gun in her purse and where she is. This may put an end to your worries.
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