Guardsmark? got some ?s

[The Ram]

hey everybody!

im new to the security field and had a question about a future potential employer....

Guardsmark...

good company to work for? i noticed the awesome benifits package and good pay...let me know your insights...

ive seen the likes of AlliedBarton and such...any opinions on all companies are greatly appreciated!

Kyle

[Lawson]

I have really never heard anything good about Guardsmark, but Ive never worked with them or for them, so I wouldn't really know for sure. I just hear they are an "observe and report" only type of company, much like Securitas.

[LavianoTS386]

They claim to have paid medical and tuition assistance. Around here they advertise $11/ hr & $12 after first year.

[N. A. Corbier]

Like most large outfits, it depends on the branch. Some are run well (maybe against policies), some are run horribly (maybe against policies).

[S Messina]

Although I have never worked for Guardsmark, I do know some people who have. The company I worked for (First Alarm Security) took over a Guardsmark account and hired some of their employees. I was not impressed with their abilities (maybe that is why they "left" Guardsmark?) Guardsmark later came and took over the site (Ridgemark Estates) that I was supervising. They do pay better than most companies in my area and offer free medical after 90 days. On paper they have an impressive management structure with many positions filled by former FBI agents.

An FBI agent had recently taken over the local office here and that was large reason they were able to take this gated community from First Alarm. A few of my staff (3) stayed there to work for Guardsmark. One was made a shift lead, he tried to quit twice and they gave him a raise each time. He was making more than the site supervisor when he did finally quit to come back to First Alarm (taking a $3.00 pay cut in the process) One of the other 2 officers that stayed there also came back to us within 3 months. (the 3rd stayed with Guardsmark because he has been employed as a guard there at the estates for 10+ years)

Guardsmark has had a huge turnover problem there since taking over. After being there 6 months they again tried to get me to work there.

These were my experiences, don't know if they will be of help.

Best bet would be to talk to the officers who work for them in your area. As has been stated before, most large companies vary from branch to branch.

[grussem]

If I were you I would just ask one of their uniformed guards. I am currently seeking another police agency to make a lateral transfer to and cops are usually pretty honest with other cops about their agencies, they'll tell you what they like and what they don't like because you're one of them. I know I'm honest with other cops about my likes and dislikes about my agency. If you see one of them around where you live, just tell them you're possibly seeking employment with them and wanna know the pros and cons. I'm sure most of them would be happy to tell you.

[The Lord of the Keys]

I've been with Guardsmark for six years and all I can say is on the plus side is that they have always paid me, they have always had fulltime hours for me and they don't jerk you from one account to the next.
The benefits aren't that good and around where I live the pay is about $10.00 per hour so you could make more being a cashier at Aldi's. They also give you the biggest spin about training, Its all a lie and as a firm they are far to top heavy.
Still you could do worse and alot depends on the account you are at. If you have any other questions feel free to email me.

[Mall Director]

Not to go too far off topic, but something interesting..

I am amazed, yet confused.. As many are aware, I am not a big fan of "Observe and Report" only agencies, but Agencies, such as Securita's have done so much mergering and purchasing of other major Agencies, such as Pinkerton, and Wells Fargo, and so on.. The growth is unbelievable. I hear they do pay their people well, but too many chiefs and too little indians, no disrespect to native americans, but with such a high turnover rate, and nearly non-exsistant results of asset protection, how do they continue to grow? Where is all of the investments coming from? I personally dont like the corporate popularity that is coming with it..

[N. A. Corbier]

Easy.

Group4Securicor, who owns just about everything in the world related to private law enforcement and security - or is a subcontractor of the people who own it... (histfan71's current employer sub's to Wackenhut, which is part of Group4Wackenhut, which is part of Group4Securitas, which is part of Group4Securicor... So, if Wackenhut didn't get the Reagan Missile Base bid, Alutiiq bids, and gets it, and might sub it to Wackenut, like they did with a bunch of other DOD bases...)

Observe and Report Only security is big business because its so easy to do. Get some insurance, if you need it. Hire people at minimum wage. Make people buy uniforms. Tell them that they will stand there and do nothing. They don't have to call the police, because they only report to the client by a log book.

Now, grow the business a bit. Someone like Initial will buy you out. Initial will sell that entire region to someone else, and before long... Securitas or Wackenhut will buy the entire company that the region was sold to.

Its all about mergers. The larger the company, the more money they get, and the less the profit margin matters. A good example is the 5.15 an hour security guard who gets free uniforms, benefits, etc. His client isn't paying for that, they may not even be paying his salary. The US Government paying 47 dollars a man hour is, as well as every other high price contract that Group4 gets.

[Mr. Security]

I've been with Guardsmark for six years and all I can say is on the plus side is that they have always paid me, they have always had fulltime hours for me and they don't jerk you from one account to the next.
The benefits aren't that good and around where I live the pay is about $10.00 per hour so you could make more being a cashier at Aldi's. They also give you the biggest spin about training, Its all a lie and as a firm they are far to top heavy. Still you could do worse and alot depends on the account you are at. If you have any other questions feel free to email me.

This is an accurate summary of Guardsmark. Like Nathan posted earlier, the quality varies based on the account manager/branch. I worked for them for a while, and I liked the following:

- Better than average applicant screening
- Professional looking uniforms that are easily distinguished from the police
- Decent hourly wage
- Employee performance appreciation/recognition

That having been said, I disliked the following:

- Open book testing and widespread cheating on the monthly training tests
- Too much focus on value-added services instead of their core business
- A monthly newsletter that focused on the Lipman family and featured news briefs about the arrests of s/o's from other companies even though their officers have been arrested too.
- A willingness to compromise security/safety standards in order to appease the client so that the account isn't lost.

I believe that Guardsmark was once a premier security company. However, IMO, the family management has lost its touch on the pulse of what is really taking place at the site level.

[HotelSecurity]

Easy.

Group4Securicor, who owns just about everything in the world related to private law enforcement and security

Watch out world, Garda from Montreal is growing fast!

[N. A. Corbier]

Watch out world, Garda from Montreal is growing fast!

I forget who owns Garda. I think they're owned by Group4 too.

[HotelSecurity]

I forget who owns Garda. I think they're owned by Group4 too.

Garda World Corp is owned by a French Canadian. He wants to grow as big as or bigger than Group4. See http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servl...rce_login=true

[Mr. Security]

Garda World Corp is owned by a French Canadian. He wants to grow as big as or bigger than Group4. See http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servl...rce_login=true

I’d be surprised if he can buy out Group 4. He will need substantial cash reserves or access to major capital to even think about it. I don't think Guardsmark, a family run business, is an option either.

[Mr. Security]

Espn

Who got the account?