The problem with the above is that you're talking about franchises. Franchises are different in that the store owner "buys in" to the corporation, and is subject to their rules and regulations. So you're correct that it's not gonna' happen in a McDonalds or a Home Depot. But it can happen in a privately owned business. Whether or not it's a good idea is a totally different issue.
You know, I almost said, "business A" and "business B" since so many times people don't keep things in context.
Frame my response in direct reference to this direct quote, and remember my entire reponse:
If a business is allowed to tell their employees that the CAN'T carry a knife, then they are allowed to tell them that they must carry one.
If it goes one way, then it goes the other way too.
Let me try again. Say business "A" (for example, a small bricklaying company, a lawn mowing company, a house painting company, a software design company, or a used car lot) says there will be no knives of any type on their premises or place of business.
That does not give the indisputable right to business "B" to have the right to
require that a knife be carried.
Take some classes that are offered by your State Employment Commission. Because people work for you, doesn't give you unlimited rights to do anything you please. I have been in trouble with them more than once, and have had to take numerous classes.
In the same vein as this, suppose that my company dress code requires all people to wear clothes. Does that mean that another company has the 100% inalienable right to say "no clothes" simply because another company requires them? It's the same logic. His supposition was that if one company can ban something, that give another employer the right to require it.
If the job requires it, you can require an employee to carry a cutting device, one that wouldn't readily be construed as having the capability of being turned into a commonly recognized weapon. (I put in commonly recognized as I know the tactical group here recognizes that a popsicle stick or a wad of Playdough could indeed be a weapon in the right hands...)
One of our local Home Depot stores does indeed require that the stocking guys (that have had their box cutter safety class) carry a store issued safety knife. It is part of their kit along with their apron and back protector. But they do not allow pocket knives, sheath knives, guns, tear gas, or anything else as company policy. Anything that could be used as, construed as, or imagined as a weapon is prohibited.
Note that the qualifying caveat in my post, complete with an example, was that if a cutting instrument is required in the normal course of dispatching the required duties specified in an employee's job, they can be required to carry a cutting instrument.
You need to have your own employees... wayyy too much fun. You will say, "I require that you guys and girls bring a knife to work to open boxes, cut twine, cut tape and other duties performed by a knife."
1/3 will come with knife that is "appropriate" for the task. 1/3 will come with their favorite zombie killing battle mistress that looks like it came from a Rambo movie. This will scare some of the other folks you employ (known notoriously as "sheeple" here) and there will be complaints. But if the knife opens boxes, cuts twine, etc., you may be up against it unless you specified a knife design or size. If you did that, you might be required to supply them yourself, and as mentioned above, provide training on their use and the appropriate safety classes. The other third will be mixed, and say "I forgot" or "knives scare me... and I don't have one or know how to use it".
It will have nothing to do with the fact that you (as opposed to your point of being a franchise) are a small or large business. Read my whole post; if an employee feels threatened or unsafe for any reason, even if it is unfounded, they have a legitimate complaint in the eyes of the law. The results from your State labor board may or may not find grounds for your discipline, but there is nothing like listening to your ex employee twist up everything that was ever said to them into a story that Mark Twain would be proud of.
I have been there too many times.
But back to my original thoughts. Just because someone bans something somewhere in employment land, it does not give the right to other employers to require it as part of their employment. Don't think of that as a knife-centric statement; think of all things employee.
Robert
