Complaint Review: Allied - Barton Security

First, read what the RIP-OFF REPORT has to say about ALLIED SECURITY! Then come back here and you can better appreciate what I have to say. Comments in parenthesis after the corporate statements are mine and based on my actual experiences.

Here is information for BARTON PROTECTIVE SERVICES one of the very FEW security officer contractors in the business with an EXCELLENT Reputation for HIRING WOMEN AND MINORITIES.(I don't know by personal experience because I could never get an serious interview with them but other people have told me that really was so! Of course, none of them had worked in the Austin,TX office.)Not bad, considering that their corporate headquarters was in Atlanta, GA and the Southern united States is NOT exactly known for progressive EMPLOYMENT policies!

READ ON:
It appeared on their web site when Barton WAS Barton!

"ABOUT BARTON PROTECTIVE:

"Founded in 1977 by Charles Barton Rice, the only owner our company has ever had, in Atlanta GA, Barton Protective Services has grown to become the fifth largest contract security company in America, with over 13,000 employees and 32 branch offices spanning from coast to coast and offices in Europe. The last five years has seen Barton triple in size, not through acquisitions or mergers, as so many others in our industry have done, but through totally organic growth, one customer and one employee at a time. This phenomenal growth has been driven by our focused dedication to our philosophy and business culture, which make up the very fabric and core of who we are, what we do, why we do things the way that we do and the best in class results we have been able to achieve for our customers and employees.

"In 1977, when Charles Barton Rice set out to build a security company, he knew that he wanted to create something very different from the norm in the industry, a company that stood on the principles of quality service delivery and taking care of its employees, concepts that have often been foreign to the security industry. Based on that desire, from that first day to today, Barton has maintained our mission "Win the Customer for Life", our values and our guiding principles. Dedication to these principles, from which we have never wavered, has allowed Barton to achieve results such as a 95% annual client retention rate in an industry that averages 75%, and our being the ONLY security company ever named to Fortune Magazine's "100 Best Companies to Work For" in America list, a distinction we have now attained for four consecutive years. We are not perfect, but we believe that if we take care of our people, our people will take care of our customers. Our employees are not guards - they are security professionals who instill confidence and respect from the employees, tenants and visitors to our properties."

WELL, WHOEVER POSTED THAT GLOWING TRIBUTE BETTER UPDATE THEIR CORPORATE INFORMATION BECAUSE BARTON PROTECTIVE WAS RECENTLY BOUGHT BY ALLIED/SPECTAGUARD (aka, ALLIED SECURITY) from King of Prussia, PA.

ALLIED SECURITY (The branch office in Austin,TX, anyway) IS APPARENTLY SO BAD THAT SOMEONE HAD TO FILE A RIP-OFF REPORT ON THEM!

YOU CAN READ IT HERE LIKE I DID.

I AM A FORMER ALLIED EMPLOYEE MYSELF AND THE RIP-OFF REPORT ABOUT THEM IS RIGHT ON THE MONEY!

THIS IS AN UPDATE!

I remember applying for Barton Protective Services BEFORE the merger and ended up having to file a report with the EEOC/Human Rights Office of the City of Austin because of what happened to me in 2001.The report was accepted but I decided not to pursue the matter from fairness to Barton Protective in the hopes that it was ONLY the Austin,TX office( as is apparently the norm in the local security contracting business)acting this way and this was not official CORPORATE POLICY. They eventually cleaned house but I am getting ahead of myself.

In the first place, all of the people I experienced in the Austin,TX branch office of Barton Protective then were extremely RUDE, YOUNG yuppies who just happened to be white. I came in and had to ask twice to get an application because the yuppie receptionist was staring at me and trying unsuccessfully not to stifle derisive laughter.

I think it was my age or maybe it was my appearance. Even though I was dressed in a professional manner - stylish and classic business suit,freshly laundered and pressed, with starched shirt, shined shoes, etc., it just wasn't going to make me into what they apparently wanted to hire and that was young,white males under 30. If they had told me that on the phone, it would have saved me a lot of trouble. Them too, as it turns out.

The recruiting brochure I saw only featured people who looked like high school age in uniforms and I began to feel extremely uncomfortable about being there. I did not see another person over 23 in the waiting area. Everyone who came and went, appeared to be about 19-21 years old and white and male.

While I was filling out my application, a group of three young white males about 19-20 years old came in and were immediately greeted with smile and given a preferential, deferential, even expedited service. The receptionist yuppie asked them the same questions that she asked me --no laughter or sneers this time -- and sent them straight on back to the hiring officer --no application needed.That would probably be filled out later. They had NO appointment in advance either and did not appear to be familiar with the place.

While I was now struggling to continue to fill out my application and wonder if I really wanted to be here, a gaggle of yuppies ( none appeared over the age of 26 at the most) who were obviously employees of Barton Protective came and stood in a door and stared at me and began to laugh. One loudly whispered:"Dumb,old greaser.." and "too old, too F***ed up." "Greaser" is commonly an epithet used for Latinos here. A friend of mine told me they called him a "g**k" and he had walked out. Another friend said they had called him a N*****! I am half-Cherokee and look it. The yuppies in charge may never have actually worked a security post either because out there you learn never to judge anyone SOLELY on their APPEARANCE. Maybe I had some nerve applying for a job in yuppieland but since when were YUPPIES EVER security officers? I had NO idea. I think I was auditioning for a stand-up comedy job because these folks didn't appear to be minding the store very well, and they weren't serious about business!

I left before I finished filling out the application( which I took with me so they wouldn't use my date of birth and other identifiers against me later.) I should have had witnesses and or an audio/video recording of what took place. After Barton apparently found I filed with the EEOC/Human Rights Commission, apparently they had a change of heart and brought in a much nicer, older lady to run the Austin office. We exchanged cordial e-mails but after the initial treatment I got, I didn't want to go back until August,2004,a few years later.

SO NOW I SEE THAT BARTON was BOUGHT By ALLIED!OFFICIALLY! There were rumours...

And this is what their NEW,UPDATED site SAYS:

"We're Now One Company-Allied Security and Barton Protective Services, two of the nation's most respected names in security officer services, are now one company.

"Allied-Barton is the premier provider of security officer services and is committed to the highest standards of quality and integrity in our products and services.

"Mission:

"Allied-Barton's mission is to assure:

"The complete satisfaction of quality-conscious customers"
(Allied lost a NUMBER of premium accounts in Austin,TX in 2001!)

"The development of staff professionalism and pride

"Continued responsible and profitable growth

"Commitment to community" ( WHOSE community?)

"Some key facts worth noting:

"Allied-Barton is the largest American owned security services company in the United States

"More than 60 offices serving over 2100 customers nationwide

"More than 37,000 employees

"More than 100 Fortune 500 companies served

"More than 48 years of industry experience

"We are highly respected in the private sector "( BARTON was) "and are committed to the following:"

"We are committed to delivering quality security services to our customers.

"We are leaders in the application of quality management concepts and strive to continually improve our processes and services.

"Our improvement culture enables our employees to be heard, make a difference,improve the quality of work life" (For CERTAIN groups OF employees...) "and take advantage of increased opportunities" (TO BE UNJUSTLY TERMINATED AND BLACKBALLED AFTERWARD? They don't explain these " increased opportunities" here and so I guess that means more people are put into the hamburger grinder faster?)

"We continuously invest in our future by bringing new talent into the most sophisticated training program in the industry."
(ALLIED REALLY DID BRING IN NEW TALENT CONTINUOUSLY -- BECAUSE ALLIED RAN OLDER PEOPLE AND PEOPLE WITH SENIORITY IN GENERAL OFF -- WHETHER OR NOT THEY WANTED A RAISE! A RAISE WAS A SIGN YOU WERE GOING TO BE FIRED!To See how Allied officers were REALLY trained, refer to the Rip-Off Report Entry on Allied Security.)

"We have developed, formalized and automated systems that enable us to effectively and efficiently deliver results."

"We have exceptional continuity in our middle and senior management ranks." (ALLIED FIRED MORE EXPERIENCED PEOPLE,PRESUMEABLY BECAUSE THEY CAN BRING IN NEW ONES WHO DON'T KNOW WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN TO THEM OR WHAT CAN HAPPEN TO THEM AND WILL WORK CHEAPER! In AUSTIN,TX ANYWAY!)

"Our goals are clearly defined and we have established a firm foundation on which to build. (AND THAT IS LOWER ESCHELON PERSONNEL ARE APPARENTLY DISPENSIBLE,INTERCHANGEABLE AND DISPOSABLE SO THEY DON'T NEED BENEFITS,HUMANE TREATMENT OR ANY REASON TO BE LOYAL TO THE COMPANY OR STAY THERE!)

End of commentary... BUT...

But my gripe is NOT with the office in King of Prussia, PA. I never even met any of them personally or had the opportunity to speak with them. They ARE, after all, like most businesses dedicated to making a profit or they couldn't stay in business.

Is the new megacorporation of Allied-Barton up to taking care of their employees like BARTON ALLEGEDLY did? IF Barton had been anything like what their original company description CLAIMED it was,then NOBODY EVER QUIT! However, ALLIED felt that" WHY should we give someone a raise( Even as little as 50 cents an hour!) when we can just go out and get some fool off the street who will do the job for less?" And THAT is what they did, at least in Austin,TX.

I wanted very much to work for Barton and see for myself if they were everything they claimed to be; and as the job market in the Austin,TX area continues to plummet to depths unseen since Jimmy Carter was President, I decided I would apply to Barton Protective Services again. The nice lady was gone now --I think it took them about a year and one-half or less to get rid of her,so much for continuity, probably when they were bought out by Allied --so I got my courage up and applied ONLINE.

About two months passed and then I called to see what happened to my application.

I talked to a young man whose name I will not mention and he told me that he had received my resume and to come on in for an interview in person the next day at promptly nine o'clock. He acted pleased with my extensive credentials, training experience and references was extremely cordial and upbeat.

Came the day of the interview, he didn't even have the courtesy to show up. I waited and I waited... The men who were there were polite enough but as I sat and I waited and waited and waited for the man to come and interview me who never showed, the smiles became more strained and the tension grew. There was a male who appeared to have a rather serious case of melted,plastic surgery,etc. (Wanting to avoid possibly rampant corporate age discrimination???) was so ANNOYED with my presence that he took it upon himself to interview, no, make that "Interrogate" me. He wanted me GONE and the entire thing was a charade. He had a lot more important things to do and I was NOT one of them.

IS THIS ANY WAY TO TREAT A JOB APPLICANT?

It is in Austin,TX...

I wondered if they would forget to put ALL of the money I earned in my paycheck or if they would forget my paycheck as easily as they forgot me.

Now I see on the local job bulletin boards online that they are constantly advertising for people. Never used to see that when Barton was Barton.

They claim:"Prior security and military experience preferred,"(YOU'D BETTER NOT BE BLACK,HISPANIC,NATIVE AMERICAN,ORIENTAL OF ANY OF THE PREVIOUS -- ESPECIALLY FEMALE!) "drug test and background check required. "


"Position Type: Full-Time Employee
Company Name: Barton Protective Services
Location: Austin, TX
Salary: Unspecified" (As LOW as possible!)
"Date Posted October 18, 2004
"Experience: Entry Level" (Nothing HERE about EXPERIENCED OFFICERS WANTED!)
"Desired Education Level: High School

"Allied-Barton Security Services is currently seeking a full time professional security officer. We pay premium wages, comprehensive benefits" (NONE were mentioned to me in the impromptu "interview" I had and ALLIED NEVER offered ANY!I CAN ONLY WONDER WHAT THEY ACTUALLY ARE) "and opportunity for advancement."(Once you have worked for ALLIED, you do ANYTHING to advance your credentials so you will NEVER be FORCED to work for them or anyone like them AGAIN! They Actually DO give you an opportunity for advancement!)
"In Austin we provide service to leading high technology companies."(Barton did. Allied lost a lot of those type of accounts to Securitas in 2001).
"Allied-Barton uses business and casual uniforms and we have revolutionized the industry by being named to Fortune Magazine's list of "Best 100 Companies to Work For" for the past 5 years." (BARTON WAS,ALLIED WASN'T!)
"Please fax your response to Human Resources Manager/Recruiter.
Our fax number is 512-371-7875. (Austin, TX BRANCH OFFICE)"...

AFTER TWO ATTEMPTS, I AM DONE WITH THESE PEOPLE.

ANONYMOUS
Austin, Texas
U.S.A.