Can employees bring guns to work?

Q: There’s been a lot of media coverage about guns recently. As a Washington employer, can I prohibit employees from bringing guns to the workplace?

A: Yes. Under Washington law, a private employer may have a policy that prohibits employees from bringing guns to the workplace, even if the employee has a concealed weapons permit. The employer’s private property rights trump the employee’s right to carry a firearm. In a case from 1991 (Cherry v, Municipality of Metropolitan Seattle) the Court noted that nothing in the relevant statute (RCW 9.41.290) prohibits private employers from implementing policies that prohibit the possession of firearms in the workplace.