Security Officer Duties

miance

Dear All

I have my continuous employment for about 7 years now, recently been TUPE over to a new employer.

This new security firm has brought some new procedures for foot patrolling that they have added that we have to do mobile clocking points as well, and they have installed about 31 points on site where we have to touch those points while doing foot patrols, this has massively increased the work, I work on night shift and doing these all points has become a lot of work. I was walking about 2 miles before now I am doing about 8 miles every single shift and at the end of the shift gets pain in legs. I have spoken with security firm about all and asked then to drop this clocking the point job or reduce the number of four patrols or increase the pay to reflect the work we are doing. But they are using the card that clocking points has to be done because client has asked us to do and they are not reducing the number of patrols or increasing the pay.
What can be about this please, I am so frustrated, tired and hopeless.

The other thing I need advise is, before this new security firm got the contract and became my employer, we were switching off the electricity lights voluntarily when every one goes home, but now as the work is increased due to these clocking points on foot patrols, I have asked them that switching off lights is not our job as security officer, but they are saying that this is part of your job and you are still required to do it and I am saying that this is not my job but facilities job, and we have a kind of argument about it, what Can I do about it please?

Looking forward to hear from you

nicechap

miance wrote: »

Dear All

I have my continuous employment for about 7 years now, recently been TUPE over to a new employer.

This new security firm has brought some new procedures for foot patrolling that they have added that we have to do mobile clocking points as well, and they have installed about 31 points on site where we have to touch those points while doing foot patrols, this has massively increased the work, I work on night shift and doing these all points has become a lot of work. I was walking about 2 miles before now I am doing about 8 miles every single shift and at the end of the shift gets pain in legs. I have spoken with security firm about all and asked then to drop this clocking the point job or reduce the number of four patrols or increase the pay to reflect the work we are doing. But they are using the card that clocking points has to be done because client has asked us to do and they are not reducing the number of patrols or increasing the pay.
What can be about this please, I am so frustrated, tired and hopeless.

The other thing I need advise is, before this new security firm got the contract and became my employer, we were switching off the electricity lights voluntarily when every one goes home, but now as the work is increased due to these clocking points on foot patrols, I have asked them that switching off lights is not our job as security officer, but they are saying that this is part of your job and you are still required to do it and I am saying that this is not my job but facilities job, and we have a kind of argument about it, what Can I do about it please?

Looking forward to hear from you

I'm intrigued, how does more pay stop your legs from hurting?


Presumably the 8 miles is not against the clock so you can do it in 3 hours or 5 hours? What were you doing during these walking hours that you are not doing now?


Are you seriously suggesting turning off a light switch is a skilled profession? Who do you employ at home to come and turn off the lights as its beyond your capabilities?


What can you do about it? You can leave and find somewhere less onerous to sleep/ work. Otherwise, accept they are paying you to work, and nothing you have suggested sounds unreasonable for a security officer.




D

lytton

Short answer is there’s probably not much you can do. First port of call would be to find any occupational health or HR health and safety individual/team on site/in the company and go to them about the pain you’re experiencing, although depending on the nature of your firm I’d be mindful about them marking you as unfit if you think they’re not helpful, that’s your decision though. You’ll probably find with your contract as with so many contracts that there’s something about ‘any other appropriate’ duties, which means your employer can ask you to do more or less anything. Unless every specific duty is down in writing with no room for thought then the chances are your new employer is entitled to change the specifics of your job over time. It sucks, I know what it’s like to have new management bought in and turn everything upside down. Even switching off lights is probably quite easy for them to justify building into your contract. You might not like it, but the path of least resistance for you may simply be to look for a new job with more favourable conditions. If any colleagues are on your side and you are members of a union then sometimes there is strength in numbers, but if nobody is willing to back you up and you’re miserable at work then I’d personally prefer to find better work. I’ve done it myself when things turn to toilet.

Ozzuk

One positive, you are being paid to get fit. Assuming no underlying medical conditions it should get easier over time. I'd have thought it would be pretty clear walking is involved in a security role.

Be careful asking for more pay - as nicechap says, how will that aid your aching limbs? You are being paid to secure a site, having checkpoints seems like common sense (and is something our site has looked at). Judging by our security partner activities it is a growing trend - in previous times the night shift has been easy 'monitor cameras' meant reading a book/watching a film with the odd glance at a camera. Now they are being made to increase foot patrols.

And turning a light off? You need to wise up on that one, raising it will be a sure fire way to label yourself as a troublemaker.

Times are hard, companies need to get the most out of every resource and that includes security. Plus the more added value you demonstrate, the more secure your role will be.

Merlin139

May I ask what a Security Officers job involves where you come from?

How long is your night shift? 12 hours? Only 8 miles of walking in 12 hours I think you have it very easy!

Switching off the lights beforehand, now you are throwing your teddy out of the pram and do not want to do it unless you are paid for it!

I get the impression that for the last 7 years you have been paid to sit on your backside and do very little!

marlot

miance wrote: »

...this has massively increased the work, I work on night shift and doing these all points has become a lot of work. I was walking about 2 miles before now I am doing about 8 miles every single shift...I have asked them that switching off lights is not our job as security officer, but they are saying that this is part of your job...

None of this seems unreasonable to me. Presumably part of the reason for the clocking points is to make sure that all the premises are checked on a regular basis. And I can't see what the issue is with turning off some lights as you go around.

marliepanda

Is it that the 8 miles is unreasonable, or that you only covering 2 miles previously wasn't doing the job properly?

I don't see how checkpoints which span 8 miles could have been adequately supervised over 2 miles previously...

TELLIT01

I can understand that suddenly increasing walking distance from 2 to 8 miles a night will initially cause legs to ache but that should reduce / stop one you get used to it. Even on an 8 hours shift it doesn't seem and excessive distance to walk. It's only one mile per hour!

sangie595

What can be done about this unreasonable demand that you actually secure the clients premises? Seriously?

What can be done about your legs hurting? Well one of my staff told me about how, when she signed up for a military fitness group, the trainer asked her what she wanted from it. She told him to lose weight. He looked her up and down, then said "eat less, move more". I believe you will find the latter part of that advice is also applicable to leg pain when walking.

theoretica

8 miles is not that far - the vaunted 10,000 steps that were in fashion as an aim for everyone add up to about five miles. Check you have good shoes for walking in and maybe check with a trainer about any exercises or stretches that would be helpful for you.

Les79

Ah ok, so they want you to do 4 patrols per night and tag 31 locations. You've subsequently gone from 2 miles/night to 8 miles/night (1/4 ratio).

So in effect you are telling us that on any given night in the past you would typically either:

1. Cover just 1/4 of the site during your 4 patrols per night

2. Undertook just 1 patrol that evening.

Given you are also complaining about the 31 clocking points, I think it may be number 1. Probably conducting patrols which consist of staying fairly close to your hut/car, or away from the areas you particularly don't want to visit. But it could be either.

Either way, that's what they pay you to do so get on with it!