Guns at Work Law Handcuffs Employers

On April 15, Gov. Charlie Crist signed into law a long-disputed bill allowing Florida employees to bring guns to work. Under this new law, an employee possessing a valid concealed weapons permit has the right to bring guns and ammunition onto an employer's property so long as the firearms are stored out of sight in the employee's locked vehicle. This runs counter to many employer policies against weapons on their property.

The Florida Retail Federation and the Florida Chamber of Commerce have already filed a suit challenging the new law, which will become effective on July 1, 2008. In the meantime, employers should review the language in their policies regarding weapons at work as well as any "right to search" policies, as they may require modification to conform to this new law.