Security Guards: Why It’s Important to Invest in Your Investment
When we go out to buy a car, or select a new TV, or even when you go to your favorite taco truck, you have no problem paying a little extra for what you want and to get a higher quality item. So why do people always choose the least expensive option when hiring service workers to help protect their investment property?
Security guards have typically been an industry where the workers are paid at, or close to minimum wage. This means that paying $1-$2 more per hour will stand out more as it is a good percentage of a security officers wage. Laws of supply and demand show that paying a higher amount will offer a larger field to choose from, ending with a higher quality option. So, if this is the case, why are people always looking for simply the lowest cost option, instead of a combination of lower cost (instead of lowest cost) and high quality?
Even going up $3 per hour over the industry standard for a certain area, comes out to just over $6,000 per year for a full time security guard. When you think about these guards protecting multi-million dollar properties with hundreds of tenants and guests, why would you not make that investment for a guard who is willing to go above simply wearing a uniform?
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In an industry with a motto of “observe and report” why would you not spend the little extra money to change it to “observe, report, and smile” or “observe, report, and say hello”, or sadly even “observe, report, and have a tucked in shirt”. These are not major changes, and usually things you would expect your security guard to do but the industry has changed to be a job where many are not proud of their work and just want to find somewhere easy to sit and be on their phone while getting paid. This is correctable and it does not take much.
Adding $1-$2 per hour to the wage of your security guard can turn them from a security guard who just wants an easy paycheck, to a security officer who takes pride in their work and takes pride in the safety and security of your property and the people who visit. When you have a multi-million dollar property to protect, spend the extra $1.
Contract Staffing
2 年Remember: You get what you pay for. Almost EVERY client wants the guard with an MBA at $16.50 an hour. Security vendors and clients TALK about quality but NEVER do anything about it. I’ve only seen TWO, count ‘em two, clients EVER pay a living wage AND cover medical insurance for the guard. These accounts NEVER had performance issues. I’ve been to over 125 accounts as a Flex Officer. Bottom line, when you have a matching 401k and vacations, no turnover problems. Remember, money talks.
Security Industry Enthusiast
2 年This is absolutely the foundation of a successful partnership between us and the Client! Interactive communication with the customer to keep wages relevant throughout the term of, what both parties want to be a very very long term relationship. Engaged security providers and officers promoting the success of the client through their actions is what we bring to the table and earns the clients respect and financial buy in when it comes to selecting compensation and benefits for our officers. Thanks Rob for your industry leading perspective and comment! Keep it up!
Senior Security Consultant and Advisor / Semi Retired
2 年Great advice, also look at the benefits provided for your personnel ! Happy employees usually are the best employees!
Area Vice President @GardaWorld | Executive Operations Leader, Strategic Process Improvements & Influencing Organizational Growth
2 年Thanks for sharing
Lead Data Scientist at BD
2 年he looks like the dude from brooklyn 99