Guns at work: Keeping employees safe in troubling times

According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), nearly two million American workers report experiencing some type of workplace violence annually. In fact, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), homicide accounted for nearly 9% of all on-the-job fatalities in 2023 (the most recent data available). Suicide accounted for another 5%. With civil unrest and tragic violence occupying news feeds, employers focus attention on addressing workplace violence, including those involving firearms.

However, over half of all states have enacted laws addressing employers’ ability to regulate possession of firearms on or near their property. West Virginia, Kentucky, and Tennessee are among those states. Accordingly, employers diligently attempting to provide a safe workplace must navigate complex waters. Let’s examine some of the issues relevant to “parking lot laws” and how they could complicate crafting your workplace violence policy.

Risks for employers