[OT] Carrying a knife

[Greatwyrm]

While I think the first manager seriously over-reacted, a business certainly can set rules like that for employees.

I never even carried a knife until I got one as a gift for being an usher in my cousin's wedding. I don't know how I ever got along without it.

Just a little folder by Buck with about an inch and a half blade. Fits right on my key ring. I work at an insurance company and no one here has ever said a thing about it, aside from a joke or two about not making me mad. On the other hand, I once worked at a computer training center and got some serious flak for having it, but was never ordered to leave it at home.

I worked a Lowe's for a while too (a large hardware and home improvement store). In the paint department, we were practically required to carry some sort of knife or box cutter. We needed them all the time. The didn't like me using the folding knife there, but it was a safety issue. The knives they gave us had springs that drew the blade into the handle if you dropped them. I guess they were afraid I was going to fall on it or something.

 

[Fenes 2]

In Switzerland, the laws concerning bladed weapons are somewhat stupid. Since we all love our swiss army knives, blades of that size are not considered weapons - you can carry it with you. Longer blades (don't know the exact size) are considered weapons and you are not allowed to carry them. Even longer blades - think swords - are not covered by the weapon laws though. Folding knives that can be opened one-handed are banned, as are combat knives - whose definitions are somewhat screwy, we had one case here at court where two knives clearly made for combat - they had no worth as a tool - had to be returned, sicne they did not fit the definitions in the laws.

 

[Hygric]

Hockey stick is used for sports, namely ice-hockey. So where is teh funny, unless stabbing is also a sport there?

Grass hockey over here, stick is more club like. The funny is that it is against the law to carry a knife on your person (even, if the cop wants to be that thourough, a swiss army knife), while you can walk down the street carrying a club of hardened wood. I would prefer taking my chances with a loony with a swiss army knife than a loony with a cricket bat.

And stabbing is not a sport over here. Wrestling crocodiles however...

 

[Voadam]

I generally carry a knife around as well except when I fly or go to the Supreme Court or Congress.

You are not a criminal, but your boss can make not carrying a personal knife part of your job requirements simply by telling you so.

Your boss can fire you for any nondiscriminatory or illegal reason they want unless you have a specific contract spelling out the conditions for termination (usually only in union jobs).

None of the above should be considered legal advice, if you want actual legal advice hire an attorney.

 

[Rel]

Well, in Britain, you'd be the criminal. Knives come under the Offensive Weapons act, and you can serve a jail term just for carrying one.

Are the good people of Great Britain (and Australia too apparently) supposed to gnaw through a piece of rope that needs to be parted?

 

[dagger]

I can carry a concealed gun in Texas (with a permit), and in some parts of Texas you can carry a non-concealed gun without a permit (not on private property), but you cant have a long knife ( think the law is 6 inches on ANY bladed device, cant remeber)......

Also baseball bats are considered weapons and illegal to carry around in your car! So make sure you throw a baseball and a glove in the backseat along with it so the cop wont ticket or bust you.

 

[Sixchan]

Are the good people of Great Britain (and Australia too apparently) supposed to gnaw through a piece of rope that needs to be parted?

What piece of rope? I doubt that I will ever meet a piece of rope on the street that I need to cut.

 

[Hygric]

Are the good people of Great Britain (and Australia too apparently) supposed to gnaw through a piece of rope that needs to be parted?

They let us carry scisors, so long as we don't run with them.

 

[Kahuna Burger]

The knives they gave us had springs that drew the blade into the handle if you dropped them. I guess they were afraid I was going to fall on it or something.

I've been walking through a TOY STORE and found an open utility knife sitting on the shelf with kids toys. Some doofus had apparently been opening boxes and just left the knife there where someone could grab it reaching to the back for a toy. In my own job I occasionally get distracted in the middle of opening boxes and have an open knife out for a while, though never just left there. Lowes sounds like an intellegent saftey oriented business and just gained my respect.

Kahuna burger

 

[Nine Hands]

Look in your employees manual. It should state there what you can have at work. I would assume that weapons would not be allowed. You also fail to mention what kind of knife it is. Is it a combat knife, throwing knife, utility knife, or a swiss army knife.

Basically, the manager does not feel safe with your pocket knife and probably thinks you some sort of ganger freak. Welcome to the world of prejudice. IMHO, just do what they want and not worry about it. What other people think if you is not always something to be concerned about.