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The management and the executive officers of a security company are the best determinants of the service a client will receive. In order to be licensed as a qualified manager for a security company by the State of California a security officer must have worked a minimum of one year. Naturally there are some other requirements and a test that has to be passed, but that is the most difficult and important hurdle. One year of guard experience will not suffice to run a professional guard company and ensure professional, reliable service to clients.
As a client one should always ask to meet with one of the executive officers to ensure that one is hiring a security company that understands all aspects of the security business. Many security guards and clients are under the false impression that a security company is simply an agency that provides security guards. A good security company will have a proven concept of hiring the right people, holding them accountable and adding value to the client's business.
Hiring the right people means a rigorous interview process by human resource professionals, who will choose the best of the best from a pool of candidates. It also means a proven background check procedure, which will ensure with a criminal background and a history of violence are not hired. A good security company will protect its clients and itself from liability by choosing the right security guards candidates with the necessary experience in the security industry.
Holding security officers accountable means establishing checks and balances with security guards, supervisors and the client. There should be electronic equipment used, which will provide the client and the supervisors with a report of the security officer's activity throughout his shift. Supervisors should be visiting the site frequently to check on and coach the security guards. They should also frequently check in with the client to ensure customer satisfaction.
Many clients might wonder how a security guard can add value to their business side from just providing security services. An excellent security company will find many ways by going beyond their post orders to add value to their client' business. In a jewelry store the main responsibility of the guard is to protect clients and property, but smiling and being professional and courteous with the customers will improve the atmosphere in the store. A security guard at a construction site will save construction people a lot of time by limiting access of job seekers and keeping a log of visitors. Hotel security guards can help the hotel save costs by handing out newspaper or assisting the bell desk if necessary. A great security company will employ security consultants that will come up with innovative ways to provide value beyond the regular security services. It is important for clients to identify that they are dealing with a company that will add value by requesting a meeting with one of the managers of the company.
Greek Segur
When property managers hire security guard companies they have a picture in mind of what their contract security force will look like, but too often what they get is not what they pictured. What we have found is that most security guard companies are capable of providing the service that property managers want, but too often do not because of a lack of ongoing quality control procedures.
Security guard companies are unlike any vendor that a property manager usually hires. If you hire a painter, you can see whether or not they are doing their jobs by looking at the walls. But when you hire a security guard company, how often can you see whether the guard company is doing their job which includes running background checks and drug screenings, providing good training for your guards, and effectively monitoring and supervising your guards. In most instances they probably are, but it is important to implement a system of verification and quality control to ensure that problems associated with the lack of performing these jobs do not begin to occur.
In this article we will discuss five (5) easy steps to improving your security guard service and achieving what you picture as your ideal security guard force.
Screen Your Guards Qualifications
In many states, guards are mandated to have a specified amount of training before they can begin working as security guards. If your state is one of these states, ensure that your security guard company is compliant.
If you are in a state where there are no state requirements for guard certification, then investigate the type of training that is being provided by your security company and ask yourself does it seem adequate.
Additionally, is your security guard company performing background and drug screenings on all your guards BEFORE they send them to your property? If they are, they should be providing you with verifications. If not, why?
Another excellent way to screen whether the guard is a good fit for your property is to conduct a short "interview" to get a feel for the guard and to explain your expectations. This initial conversation can tell you a lot about what to expect from that guard and it gives you a chance to request a different guard if you feel that it is necessary.
Assess Guard Training
Although most security guard companies have a very thorough orientation that introduces each guard to the company itself, in many cases the guard's orientation to his assigned property is not as complete. We call the orientation for the assigned property "Site Specific Training". Find out what your site specific training looks like:
• Does it occur at your property?
• Who does the training?
• How long is each new officer trained?
• How long does the security company double bank? (Double banking is the process of having a veteran guard working at the same time as the new guard.)
• How thoroughly are your post orders explained?
Determine the answer to each of these questions and make sure that they fit with what you feel is adequate. You should even consider sitting in on your security guard company's orientation and your site specific training to get an understanding of what goes into preparing a guard to work at your property.
Review Your Guard's Supervision
Guard supervision is one of the more important factors of good security guard service. When security companies provide poor supervision, there is not enough emphasis placed on preventing mistakes, problems, and complaints. Lack of supervision also removes the opportunity for the guard to learn and better understand their duties. If the guards are not being supervised, they begin to feel that their work is not important and they begin to see themselves as less of a part of the security team. When guards do not feel like part of your team it typically leads to unacceptable practices such as unprofessional behavior, tardiness, and even theft.
Depending on the structure of your contract, on-site supervisors may not be included. If your contract does not require on-site supervision, how does your security guard company remotely supervise its guards? Outside of the normal security company field supervisor spot checks, the two methods of remote supervision that prove most successful are:
1. Officer Tour Tracking Systems
2. Officer Check-Ins
If your guards are required to make rounds of your property, then a system for tracking them while on duty is essential. Officer Tour Tracking Systems provide a remote way of monitoring the guards while they are on your property. These tracking systems allow the security guard company to monitor the time and log the activity of the guards while they are making rounds to various areas on your property. Most Officer Tour Tracking Systems can generate reports that enable the security guard company to quickly get an understanding of whether the guard is making rounds. The property manager should also be provided with an abridged version of these reports. Manufacturers of such systems include Deggy and Timekeeping Systems, Inc.
In addition to Officer Tour Tracking systems, we have found that having a system for guards to check in regularly with the security guard company provides a way of making sure that each guard is safe and alert. By having guards check-in regularly with the security guard company, at least every 30 minutes, guards feel that their safety is important and that being awake and alert is an important part of their job.
Inspect Your Guards
After hours inspections of your guards are always great ways of finding out exactly what is happening with your security while you are not there. During these inspections, make sure to ask your security guards questions about their duties and responsibilities to ensure that they understand their jobs. In fact, we suggest having your security guards audited regularly, formally (i.e. post inspection) and informally (i.e. secret shopped) by a licensed security consultant as part of your ongoing security program.
Firms like Asymmetric Strategies provide a free service aimed at doing exactly that. Remember, when choosing a security consultant be sure that the consultant is not actually a security guard company. If so, your audit is sure to turn up problems with your current security guard company.
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