Complaint Review: Securitas USA

I agree with Duane's comments on the private contract security industry. Having worked in it myself in many capacities, the "nail was hit on the head.."

Contract security is not designed nor set up to be a long term career solution. In my opinion, it is security only in name. If I was in a client position, I would not want nor tolerate a mere contractor to be in charge of a "real" security operation,especially at a refinery or large, landmark highrise buildings; Fine for the information desk, the rover, etc...but nothing real critical.

According to all of the PR such companies put out, it would make you think that they are the greatest thing since sliced bread. In reality, contract security companies are for the most part, designed to be highly visible concierges and not much more. They are to take the fall for their clients when the time comes...this is one of the reasons that clients use them and pay what they do; you are not expected (nor supposed to be) around for a long period of time.I've seen security companies sued by clients for things they had nothing to do with and did not involve them, but the client in the case made it clear "that's why we hire you."

In Houston in any given year, there are at least over one hundred contract security companies, all provide the same service, many are questionable to say the least, often, their management leaves an AWFUL lot to be desired.For the guards themselves, it is a thankless job. For junior supervisors (below managers) it is even worse; you'll be hung out by your superiors when the time comes.

One security guard company owner I know of told me years ago, "Guards are product, commodity, nothing more...treat them as such..."

It is what it is....nothing more, nothing less.

I can only speak of my personal experiences working security in TEXAS and let me tell you that every word I wrote is true and I would write a whole lot more if I did not have relatives who are tyring to keep their jobs. They haven't been hurt on the job and the companies who were legally required to have workman's compensation had NONE and I lost almost everything I had because they went out of business after I was hurt...and nothing could be done.

The State of Texas investigated as a result of their investigation, I received a permanently disabled parking permit and I earned a place in the program to retrain people with disabilities which is paid for by the taxpayers. I hope the State of Texas goes after the former employer and gets all the money back that they had to spend on my care and rehabilitation!

I LOVED working at night, weekends, extra hours and holidays! I did very well in high-crime, high risk areas where most people were afraid to go. I was always on call and I would show up whenever, wherever...

But it all ended up like this!

I am fighting for my life to try to get an education --at taxpayer expense --so I can make a living and pay my own way again...at the same time, I have no home and no car. Nobody will hire me because I have a disability and no job skills except for security and the type of injury I received precludes my return.

So if you want to end up like me STAY IN THE PRIVATE SECURITY CONTRACTING BUSINESS... but more than likely, you will be backstabbed, ripped-off, harrassed and set up for failure because of your race, age, gender, color, religion, ethnicity before you get the chance to put in 20 years...

These companies LIE to you. They skim your checks. They charge the clients extra money for your holiday pay, performance bonuses and raises --then they keep them for themselves --the officer who was supposed to get them never sees a dime!

Washington State, from what I have heard, is fairly progressive and doesn't pull the sort of dirty tricks that they do in Texas --even so, I will agree with the security company manager here, they are all basically alike. I guess they only differ in the amount they rip people off...
CLIENTS and EMPLOYEES BEWARE!

First of all I want to ask anyone that bashes on the contract security industry I don't care what company it iswhat did you expect? I worked as a Branch Manager for Securitas and before that with Pinkerton for almost 10 years. And I have seen and heard every horror story there is out there.

First lets look at when you decided to start a career in Contract Security. You found an ad on-line or in the paper advertising that you would be trained, no experience necessary, we provide uniforms, starting wage D.O.E. or maybe between $8-$10 hrsomething to that naturecorrect?

Now lets look at your prior experience, and what you were willing to put into the job. There are two types that come into securitythose without experience and those withand no, just because you are a weekend warrior in the National Guard, does not qualify most as Experienced. In realitymost people do not understand the concept that contract security is nothing more than a Staffing Agency. The security company placed a bid on the Clients contract to provide security services at a specified rate, and most contracts specify what type of people (experience) they would prefer.

Now lets talk about what days, hours you wanted to work. When I was in contract security, I only made two guarantees to every applicant that sat in my office#1: I guarantee you will work either swing on grave shift, #2 I guarantee that you will work the weekend. Let's be realistic, the client hires security officers to secure their property when they are NOT THERE. 90% of all security shifts are swing, grave and weekend. Ask yourself how fair it would be to give you the day shift, when there are 100 other officers out there that have put in their time on the job to deserve a better shift.

As for excusesI've heard them all before too. Imagine what management goes though on a daily basis (office management). Take your problems and multiply them by 2500%, or how many ever employees the particular office supports. With an average office staff of 15, you can see where your emergency might not be the #1 thing on the list. Most offices and managers make payroll, uniforms and client satisfaction #1 priorities. And no, managers do not sit in the office pulling in fat checks because you do all the work. Large contracts (336 hours per week) typically on have a profit margin of around 6%, and the local office is only allocated less than 10% of that 6% to support officers on that site. And that 10% includes everything, from management payroll, to rent for the office.

Last thing I would like to address for those that have not done their homework above. Securitas has less than 10% of all US Contract Security. Contract Security as a whole is segmented across the United States in small Mom & Pop companies. As much as 70% of all US Contract Security are managed by these type of companies, US owned and operated. Contract Security as a whole in the US is dominated by US owned companies. The only other major outside player that I am aware of is Group 4, more commonly know as Wakenhut. Last I knew they had less than 10% holding also. So before spewing off about foreign run security blah blah, get your facts straight. Not many sectors of US Commerce that I know of that have such low overseas ownership

And lastly, if your going to choose security as a career. Be realistic on what to expect. If the job is only paying $1 an hour over min wage, it's that way for a reason. It's what the client has budgeted to payit's what the client feels your position is worththat is why they contract it outthey do not want to deal with the turnover, uniform issues, incident reports, blah, blah.for that reason alone, the job is available, and the security business is in business.

Contract security is no different than the contract that business put out for: Janitorial Services, Parking Lot Sweeping Services, or catering services (cafeteria food)

Enough SaidGood Luck.

First of all I want to ask anyone that bashes on the contract security industry I don't care what company it iswhat did you expect? I worked as a Branch Manager for Securitas and before that with Pinkerton for almost 10 years. And I have seen and heard every horror story there is out there.

First lets look at when you decided to start a career in Contract Security. You found an ad on-line or in the paper advertising that you would be trained, no experience necessary, we provide uniforms, starting wage D.O.E. or maybe between $8-$10 hrsomething to that naturecorrect?

Now lets look at your prior experience, and what you were willing to put into the job. There are two types that come into securitythose without experience and those withand no, just because you are a weekend warrior in the National Guard, does not qualify most as Experienced. In realitymost people do not understand the concept that contract security is nothing more than a Staffing Agency. The security company placed a bid on the Clients contract to provide security services at a specified rate, and most contracts specify what type of people (experience) they would prefer.

Now lets talk about what days, hours you wanted to work. When I was in contract security, I only made two guarantees to every applicant that sat in my office#1: I guarantee you will work either swing on grave shift, #2 I guarantee that you will work the weekend. Let's be realistic, the client hires security officers to secure their property when they are NOT THERE. 90% of all security shifts are swing, grave and weekend. Ask yourself how fair it would be to give you the day shift, when there are 100 other officers out there that have put in their time on the job to deserve a better shift.

As for excusesI've heard them all before too. Imagine what management goes though on a daily basis (office management). Take your problems and multiply them by 2500%, or how many ever employees the particular office supports. With an average office staff of 15, you can see where your emergency might not be the #1 thing on the list. Most offices and managers make payroll, uniforms and client satisfaction #1 priorities. And no, managers do not sit in the office pulling in fat checks because you do all the work. Large contracts (336 hours per week) typically on have a profit margin of around 6%, and the local office is only allocated less than 10% of that 6% to support officers on that site. And that 10% includes everything, from management payroll, to rent for the office.

Last thing I would like to address for those that have not done their homework above. Securitas has less than 10% of all US Contract Security. Contract Security as a whole is segmented across the United States in small Mom & Pop companies. As much as 70% of all US Contract Security are managed by these type of companies, US owned and operated. Contract Security as a whole in the US is dominated by US owned companies. The only other major outside player that I am aware of is Group 4, more commonly know as Wakenhut. Last I knew they had less than 10% holding also. So before spewing off about foreign run security blah blah, get your facts straight. Not many sectors of US Commerce that I know of that have such low overseas ownership

And lastly, if your going to choose security as a career. Be realistic on what to expect. If the job is only paying $1 an hour over min wage, it's that way for a reason. It's what the client has budgeted to payit's what the client feels your position is worththat is why they contract it outthey do not want to deal with the turnover, uniform issues, incident reports, blah, blah.for that reason alone, the job is available, and the security business is in business.

Contract security is no different than the contract that business put out for: Janitorial Services, Parking Lot Sweeping Services, or catering services (cafeteria food)

Enough SaidGood Luck.

First of all I want to ask anyone that bashes on the contract security industry I don't care what company it iswhat did you expect? I worked as a Branch Manager for Securitas and before that with Pinkerton for almost 10 years. And I have seen and heard every horror story there is out there.

First lets look at when you decided to start a career in Contract Security. You found an ad on-line or in the paper advertising that you would be trained, no experience necessary, we provide uniforms, starting wage D.O.E. or maybe between $8-$10 hrsomething to that naturecorrect?

Now lets look at your prior experience, and what you were willing to put into the job. There are two types that come into securitythose without experience and those withand no, just because you are a weekend warrior in the National Guard, does not qualify most as Experienced. In realitymost people do not understand the concept that contract security is nothing more than a Staffing Agency. The security company placed a bid on the Clients contract to provide security services at a specified rate, and most contracts specify what type of people (experience) they would prefer.

Now lets talk about what days, hours you wanted to work. When I was in contract security, I only made two guarantees to every applicant that sat in my office#1: I guarantee you will work either swing on grave shift, #2 I guarantee that you will work the weekend. Let's be realistic, the client hires security officers to secure their property when they are NOT THERE. 90% of all security shifts are swing, grave and weekend. Ask yourself how fair it would be to give you the day shift, when there are 100 other officers out there that have put in their time on the job to deserve a better shift.

As for excusesI've heard them all before too. Imagine what management goes though on a daily basis (office management). Take your problems and multiply them by 2500%, or how many ever employees the particular office supports. With an average office staff of 15, you can see where your emergency might not be the #1 thing on the list. Most offices and managers make payroll, uniforms and client satisfaction #1 priorities. And no, managers do not sit in the office pulling in fat checks because you do all the work. Large contracts (336 hours per week) typically on have a profit margin of around 6%, and the local office is only allocated less than 10% of that 6% to support officers on that site. And that 10% includes everything, from management payroll, to rent for the office.

Last thing I would like to address for those that have not done their homework above. Securitas has less than 10% of all US Contract Security. Contract Security as a whole is segmented across the United States in small Mom & Pop companies. As much as 70% of all US Contract Security are managed by these type of companies, US owned and operated. Contract Security as a whole in the US is dominated by US owned companies. The only other major outside player that I am aware of is Group 4, more commonly know as Wakenhut. Last I knew they had less than 10% holding also. So before spewing off about foreign run security blah blah, get your facts straight. Not many sectors of US Commerce that I know of that have such low overseas ownership

And lastly, if your going to choose security as a career. Be realistic on what to expect. If the job is only paying $1 an hour over min wage, it's that way for a reason. It's what the client has budgeted to payit's what the client feels your position is worththat is why they contract it outthey do not want to deal with the turnover, uniform issues, incident reports, blah, blah.for that reason alone, the job is available, and the security business is in business.

Contract security is no different than the contract that business put out for: Janitorial Services, Parking Lot Sweeping Services, or catering services (cafeteria food)

Enough SaidGood Luck.

First of all I want to ask anyone that bashes on the contract security industry I don't care what company it iswhat did you expect? I worked as a Branch Manager for Securitas and before that with Pinkerton for almost 10 years. And I have seen and heard every horror story there is out there.

First lets look at when you decided to start a career in Contract Security. You found an ad on-line or in the paper advertising that you would be trained, no experience necessary, we provide uniforms, starting wage D.O.E. or maybe between $8-$10 hrsomething to that naturecorrect?

Now lets look at your prior experience, and what you were willing to put into the job. There are two types that come into securitythose without experience and those withand no, just because you are a weekend warrior in the National Guard, does not qualify most as Experienced. In realitymost people do not understand the concept that contract security is nothing more than a Staffing Agency. The security company placed a bid on the Clients contract to provide security services at a specified rate, and most contracts specify what type of people (experience) they would prefer.

Now lets talk about what days, hours you wanted to work. When I was in contract security, I only made two guarantees to every applicant that sat in my office#1: I guarantee you will work either swing on grave shift, #2 I guarantee that you will work the weekend. Let's be realistic, the client hires security officers to secure their property when they are NOT THERE. 90% of all security shifts are swing, grave and weekend. Ask yourself how fair it would be to give you the day shift, when there are 100 other officers out there that have put in their time on the job to deserve a better shift.

As for excusesI've heard them all before too. Imagine what management goes though on a daily basis (office management). Take your problems and multiply them by 2500%, or how many ever employees the particular office supports. With an average office staff of 15, you can see where your emergency might not be the #1 thing on the list. Most offices and managers make payroll, uniforms and client satisfaction #1 priorities. And no, managers do not sit in the office pulling in fat checks because you do all the work. Large contracts (336 hours per week) typically on have a profit margin of around 6%, and the local office is only allocated less than 10% of that 6% to support officers on that site. And that 10% includes everything, from management payroll, to rent for the office.

Last thing I would like to address for those that have not done their homework above. Securitas has less than 10% of all US Contract Security. Contract Security as a whole is segmented across the United States in small Mom & Pop companies. As much as 70% of all US Contract Security are managed by these type of companies, US owned and operated. Contract Security as a whole in the US is dominated by US owned companies. The only other major outside player that I am aware of is Group 4, more commonly know as Wakenhut. Last I knew they had less than 10% holding also. So before spewing off about foreign run security blah blah, get your facts straight. Not many sectors of US Commerce that I know of that have such low overseas ownership

And lastly, if your going to choose security as a career. Be realistic on what to expect. If the job is only paying $1 an hour over min wage, it's that way for a reason. It's what the client has budgeted to payit's what the client feels your position is worththat is why they contract it outthey do not want to deal with the turnover, uniform issues, incident reports, blah, blah.for that reason alone, the job is available, and the security business is in business.

Contract security is no different than the contract that business put out for: Janitorial Services, Parking Lot Sweeping Services, or catering services (cafeteria food)

Enough SaidGood Luck.

The reason that they wanted you to pay $75 instead of taking it out of your paycheck was that one of them wanted $75 whereas the paychecks come from another location.

Security work pays so badly, that nobody really cares what happens.

SECURITAS has one of the WORST reputations in the industry -0-after all, they used to be American Protective, Pinkerton Security and Burns International Security Services and a bunch of other FORMERLY OWNED AMERICAN COMPANIES who were doing so badly, that they were on their way out of business and then this megacorporation from SWEDEN or DENMARK bought them all up and merged them as SECURITAS. True story.
DOES THIS BOTHER ANYONE ELSE BESIDES ME THAT FOREIGN COUNTRIES OWN SECURITY COMPANIES IN THE UNITED STATES THAT ARE LICENSED TO HAVE HANDGUNS, SHOTGUNS AND OTHER WEAPONS --especially when foreigners who are undocumented are not supposed to have access to weapons????
Because of the low wages and the miserable treatment security people get in the private security contracting business, NOBODY gives a **** about service to the consumer, regardless what the salesperson promises.
After 20 years in the business, I have seen and experienced almost every kind of sordid ripoff scam and scheme that these horrible companies can come up with.
Consider yourself fortunate that you didn't stay with these people.
You see, if anything HAD happened, the lieutenant would have blamed YOU. YOUR conversation would NEVER have taken place, according to her and since this was YOUR area of responsibility, it would have been YOUR a*s. In fact, you should have had your notebook and written down the particuliars --the date, time and place and names of all involved and what happened, etc. CYOA and I won't tell you what that acronym stands for.
In contract security, you had better be very good at covering your own self because there are some people who work there who are "headhunters" and they like to see how many new,inexperienced personnel they can get find "screwing" up so they can get you fired. No particuliar reason because they don't really get any extra money for it, well, maybe some overtime but no reward or financial incentive directly.
I could tell you about how they do not train you adequately and how they discriminate and how things happen where they legally justifu screwing you out of your pay, etc.
Keep reading what I post about private security and make it a point NEVER to work in the industry unless you can work for Blackwater or one of the private army mercenary groups that work in IRAQ for REAL MONEY instead of the near-minimum wage pittances they pay here. The owner of the company charges about $11 - $15 per hour per officer and the officer gets minimum wage or a few pennies more and is fired every time they ask for or are given a raise....