Cost of Living for Security Guards

[Guest]

Interesting article about the cost of living for security guards and attempts to unionize.

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-lopez9apr09,1,5137098.column?page=1&coll=la-headlines-california

[Tennsix]

Wow

Making me pause and thank God for I have.

[Mr. Security]

"Why stick with a low-end job like security guard?"

Interesting quote from the article. It reveals in a nutshell the view that most people have of security guards. We're not even close to being recognized as professionals.

[N. A. Corbier]

Noticed that, too. Might ask the same question about the janitors, but this makes it seem like the janitors have a higher position on the totem pole.

[Tennsix]

The article also implied the woman was not educated enough to do any other job.

[N. A. Corbier]

The article also implied the woman was not educated enough to do any other job.

Something I noticed was that in psychological evaluations, having an occupation of "security guard" can be an indicator of "low skill" or "underachiever." (DSM-IV)

[Warren]

Noticed that, too. Might ask the same question about the janitors, but this makes it seem like the janitors have a higher position on the totem pole.

I think Janitors make more $$ than a Security Guard.

[Taser]

I think Janitors make more $$ than a Security Guard.

Some do. Just like some security guards make more money than cops.

[1stWatch]

Honestly, most of the security officers I ever met made an average of $8.50 per hour. Some made a few dollars more per hour, but had no overtime hours available. A lot of them have miserable living conditions. One guy who works for the same company I do has no car, takes the bus everywhere he goes, lives on gas station hot dogs and 99 cent burgers, and spends half his sleeping time in the garage at the station. I've known others who were literally homeless, living out of their cars when not on post. Conditions get made a lot worse if the person gets sick on the job or hurt and has to go to the hospital. There is no affordable health insurance or accidental death and dismemberment insurance plan available since the person's job is considered "high risk" and absolutely no line of death benefit for the family. Just refer to an early post I made about one who was killed on duty in 2003 if you want an example.

[bigshotceo]

Not to mention that it's one of the only minimum-wage jobs that expects you to spend your own money on the job (in some cases, uniforms, equipment, consumables..)

[1stWatch]

Not quite minimum wage, but not nearly as well to do as it should be.

[Mr. Security]

Something I noticed was that in psychological evaluations, having an occupation of "security guard" can be an indicator of "low skill" or "underachiever." (DSM-IV)

That's not right. No wonder my wife feels embarrassed when people ask what her husband's occupation is.

[Mr. Security]

..... Conditions get made a lot worse if the person gets sick on the job or hurt and has to go to the hospital. There is no affordable health insurance ......

If it's a job related injury/illness, then workman's compensation will pay for treatment. You're absolutely right if the injury/illness is NOT job related. In a case like that, you could be buried in debt from all the medical expenses. You may never be able to recover financially.

[N. A. Corbier]

That's not right. No wonder my wife feels embarrassed when people ask what her husband's occupation is.

Security guards are considered no-skill general service labor. I applied at a temp agency once, and was asked, "Ok, so your a security guard. Do you have any useful or marketable skills?"

After going ..., I told the dumb bitch to turn to page two.

[HotelSecurity]

If it's a job related injury/illness, then workman's compensation will pay for treatment. You're absolutely right if the injury/illness is NOT job related. In a case like that, you could be buried in debt from all the medical expenses. You may never be able to recover financially.

Thank goodness for Canada's Medicare system . In Quebec we now even have government run drug insurance. We might be the highest taxed place in North America but at least we don't go broke when we get sick!