Many employers act in ways that are arbitrary and unreasonable. Any employee who finds the employer's actions objectionable has the right to seek employment elsewhere. The only tricky issue I can see is if the employee has signed a non-compete agreement. In that case, I would think an employer should be forbidden from exercising such arbitrary authority unless it decides to dissolve the agreement, which it should be in its power to do.
Since there is nothing forcing people to work for AOL, shouldn't we leave it up to them to decide whether the policy is reasonable or worth putting up with to keep their jobs? It's not like AOL is doing anything worse that firing them anyway.
AOL is trying to do much worse. It's trying to infringe on a basic individual right by using its power to hire & fire.
Why? Ask yourself the reason. There is none.
Their actions are arbitrary & unreasonable. Having a gun in your car is none of AOL's business.
Supercat replies :
Many employers act in ways that are arbitrary and unreasonable. Any employee who finds the employer's actions objectionable has the right to seek employment elsewhere.
Of course he does. -- But as in the case at hand, the fired employees also had the right to seek redress, and if possible, to stop employers from making such arbitrary 'rules' in the future.
It is against all of our constitutional principles to infringe upon our RKBA's, -- regardless of the organizations supposed 'reasons' for doing so.
The only tricky issue I can see is if the employee has signed a non-compete agreement. In that case, I would think an employer should be forbidden from exercising such arbitrary authority unless it decides to dissolve the agreement, which it should be in its power to do.
Look at it this way. - We could all agree that it would be unconstitutional of AOL to require potential employees to rid themselves of ~all~ weapons before being hired, -- correct?
-- Why then is it OK for them to forbid weapons secured in personal vehicles in a company parking lot? the bearing of arms [in a car trunk] is a basic right.
In effect, by doing so they are requiring employees to disarm themselves for far more than just the work related part of their life. This company policy is directly contrary to our constitutional policy on the bearing of arms. It is an infringement.