By: Brian Norris
The recent and very public locker room gun-pulling incident between NBA players Gilbert Arenas and Javaris Crittenton has highlighted the importance for employers to create and enforce policy on workplace safety.
As many sports fans know, Arenas and Crittenton have now been suspended by the league for the remainder of the 2009-2010 season for brandishing guns in the Washington Wizard’s locker room. Some may interpret the NBA’s actions as “making an example” of the payers. Others, such as myself, see it as the league legitimizing and enforcing it’s policy outlined in the collective bargaining agreement; An agreement produced by the collective efforts of the NBA owners and the Players’ Union.
As previously mentioned by Daniel Lublin, if an employer wants to lean to it’s policies in support of a lawsuit, it is important for them to circulate and enforce clearly worded company policy.
With the introduction of Bill 168 in Canada, the issue of workplace safety regarding violence has been a hot topic as of late. The incident between Arenas and Crittenton and the manner in which the NBA dealt with it is a good example for all employers to take notice of.
Brian Norris is the Office Manger of Whitten & Lublin LLP, an employment law office providing counsel to both employers and employees.