Quote Originally Posted by Jaeger View Post
I've never worked retail security simply because of the pay.

Back when I started, retail security was on pay grade 2, which was something like nine euros an hour. For that amount of money an hour while being posted on sites with guaranteed violent, sometimes drugged out bad guys I figured it wasn't worth a shot. I've also heard of all that extra work they assign security guards in retail sites with the shopping cart rearrangements and what not. Once I've even seen one of the Securitas guys mopping floors
Our company technically markets extra work to our retail clients, but I've rarely actually had to do that since in my experience the staff (and especially the manager, if there's a high rate of theft loss, vandalism or disturbance) wants security to do what it's supposed to. Generally, the more peaceful a site is the more extra work they assign you, and vice versa in the case of not-so-peaceful sites.

Though I've heard or seen all the worst ones from people in other companies, such as delivering plastic bags to the cashiers and the infamous shopping cart/basket arranging and even saw an ISS security guard unload a truck with a forklift once.

It's just that often you get the idea that the younger, more action-orientated officers tend to get themselves into retail, since retail is a guaranteed spot for action and adventure.
There are definitely a few people who correspond to that idea, though I like retail mostly because the working hours are better than on patrol while still providing a chance of good income due to various extras, as well as generally getting along well with store staff. They're usually fairly down-to-Earth types, even the managers if they've started out as regular employees.

One of the most annoying experiences I've had so far working security was the aforementioned industrial site since it also housed the client company's local HQ. Our monitoring center doubled as a reception and the office staff as well as guests gave you the thin air treatment all the time.