What you should know before selecting or contracting a security provider ?

 

When you are researching and selecting a security provider for security services, it is important to recognize that all security companies are not created equally.  Some security companies cut corners to give you a low per hour price bid.  In many cases this price cutting is on the backs of their employees through low wages, no holiday or vacation pay or benefits.  Service quality suffers from high turnover due to a company not being able to attract and retain quality employees because of low paying wages and poor benefits.  Another cost cutting area that can increase your liability is to cut overhead costs by lowering insurance coverage limits, reduce or eliminate training or just put a "warm body at the post."

Additional questions you should ask:

  • How long has the security company been in business?
  • Does the company specialize in the services you need in a niche market, such as healthcare and gated communities ? Or is the company a generalist just after volume billable hours?
  • Does the company provide uniforms at no cost to their employees? Does the company require their employees to purchase uniforms from them?  Professional security companies provide uniforms without charging their employees.  This allows the security employees to become positive partners that want to provide a higher quality of service to the customer.  Providing uniforms at no cost to the employee is a way to make the security employee feel appreciated and part of the team.
  • Does the company provide a complete and affordable benefits package to their employees, including health care?
  • Does the company provide a multi-million dollar General Liability, Automobile and Workers Compensation insurance coverage?
  • Are the security officers covered by an Employee Dishonesty Insurance Program?
  • Does the security company provide insurance coverage if a security officer losses a grand master or other key and you have to re-key an entire building?
  • If the security company provides a vehicle, is it fully equipped with lights and corporate markings?
  • Does the security company maintain their own 24/7 Communications Center?
  • Does the security company use a patrol verification system for their foot and vehicle patrols?
  • Does the security company provide on-line access to reports and email notifications of emergencies or critical incidents?

The old adage you get what you pay for is firmly entrenched in the security industry. So be careful and be sure to ask the tough questions and select the company that is right for you and will protect your interests and not just collect a check.

Outsourcing Your In-house Security

Is outsourcing your existing in-house and employee security team right for you? It is if you want to:

  • Reduce security program costs
  • Retain control and accountability
  • Retain staffing and assignment flexibility
  • Have the ability to quickly adapt to changing needs
  • Eliminate scheduling problems
  • Reduce risk and liability exposure
  • Lower training costs
  • Reduce uniform and equipment costs
  • Eliminate overtime caused by employee call-offs

What is the true cost of your current in-house security team? These are questions you should ask and numbers you should count.

  • Wage costs - base wage, holiday pay, vacation pay, sick pay, incentive pay, merit pay, longevity pay, shift differential pay, overtime, FICA/Medicare match, federal and state unemployment taxes, overtime, lost productive time and wage costs due to military duty, jury duty, on the job injuries.
  • Benefits costs - health, dental, vision, life, short and long term disability, 401(k) contribution.
  • Human Resources - recruiting, advertising, background, interviewing, termination costs, HR staff.
  • Insurance costs - General Liability, Workers Compensation and Automobile liability.
  • Training costs - initial training, on-the-job post training, supervisor, management and continual in-service training.
  • Uniforms - shirts, pants, badges, jackets, sweaters, shoes, belts, name badges.
  • Miscellaneous - incident reporting software, computers, patrol verification systems, cell phones, security logs, guest/access passes, office supplies.

Total this up and you should have the real cost of your in-house employee security program. Then compare your current cost with a proposal from a professional and qualified contract security company. Watch out for low bidders in your comparison. See above for what to look out for.

If you are considering outsourcing your security department, contact Yale Enforcement Services, Inc. today. We would be happy to assist you in a no obligation cost analysis.