What does everyone do???

[PolarDeer]

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.

[KeithSDavid]

I am currently working overnight as a Security Officer at a multi-building campus of a large healthcare equipment manufacturer. It's an okay job, the client treats us better then most and the pay is pretty good for the area.

[Trunk Monkey]

I am currently working overnight as a Security Officer at a multi-building campus of a large healthcare equipment manufacturer. It's an okay job, the client treats us better then most and the pay is pretty good for the area.

Wouldn't be in Colorado would it?

[Jaeger]

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.

I mostly do my shifts at governmental agencies and various public or city-owned institutions, so I've also had my fair share of silent treatment from the staff of our clients along with all sorts of other treatment.

One would indeed think that retail would have the more down-to-earth types as store staff. That is a huge bonus in this trade, when the bad folks you have to deal with give you the trouble on a regular basis, you'd often wish that at least the client personnel would somehow be more co-operative towards you.

[Trunk Monkey]

I mostly do my shifts at governmental agencies and various public or city-owned institutions, so I've also had my fair share of silent treatment from the staff of our clients along with all sorts of other treatment.

One would indeed think that retail would have the more down-to-earth types as store staff. That is a huge bonus in this trade, when the bad folks you have to deal with give you the trouble on a regular basis, you'd often wish that at least the client personnel would somehow be more co-operative towards you.

I think it’s a difference in personality but as long as a client employee isn’t actively impeding my job I couldn’t care less if they treat me like furniture. Personally, I feel that them ignoring me makes my job easier.

[Jaeger]

From what I've seen many of the so-called high profile sites often have a very strict pecking order originating inside the clients personnel. Sadly the security officers are ranked into the system, and not to a very high position.

It is naturally understandable that these sorts of sites have a lot of university-educated "high and mighty"-types working there, so they tend to give you the thin air treatment more than the rest, at least in my opinion. I have actually met quite a few types of personnel from our clients who cannot be called "down to earth" by any measures

I'm guessing that working retail probably has its' share of problematic personnel from the clients, but it is a completely different can of worms once you enter the sites with alot of receptionist duties and/or are ranked "high profile".

[PolarDeer]

I'm guessing that working retail probably has its' share of problematic personnel from the clients, but it is a completely different can of worms once you enter the sites with alot of receptionist duties and/or are ranked "high profile".

Well, retail can have its own problems in that regard, from what I've heard occasionally with client employees trying to assign that extra work to security (usually haven't had that problem myself, except in quieter sites where I can't honestly say that the extra work would be taking time off from the main task) and from what I've seen first-hand with retailers often using workforce renting for extra staff. ¨'

The extra staff's a problem since they aren't usually experienced with the "problem clients" and might get sloppy with age control and such when it comes to alcohol and gambling machines, selling beer to obviously drunk people, and so on. That's a serious work hindrance since a part of retail security is also making sure the law gets adhered to in that regard, especially since an alcohol or gambling inspector could remove the said licenses from the store due to infractions.

Not meaning to be "age-ist", but some older cashiers also have very interesting ideas of what they can and cannot do to possible shoplifters and troublemakers or what they can tell security to do. Those become an active problem if they tell security to remove people for the most ridiculous reasons, such as cursing in store or whatever, not understanding the potential legal ramifications when security is involved there. Yes, a store is allowed to choose its clients but throwing people out for really dumb - if legally permissible - reasons is a risk if it devolves into use of force. I examine everything I do in relation to the urgency of the task and the severity of the violation I'm intervening on, both to cover my rear from legal consequences and as a matter of professional ethics, so occasionally I've had my clashes with store employees who are overzealous or not aware of how legal a certain action happens to be.

[Curtis Baillie]

76 replies and 7,773 views later.....I'm still a Security Management Consultant.

[SecureTN]

I'm sure I have a post somewhere in here, but I changed jobs a few months ago.

Currently working in a small regional hospital.

Planning on getting out of the security field in a year or two

[amaygates111]

We are a security service providers.