If you own a retail store or commercial business, keeping track of assets, revenue and cash flow are crucial to your daily operations. One of the major threats to commercial businesses is theft. While many business owners fear theft from customers in the form of merchandise, employee theft is one of the most rampant and damaging occurrences in all types of businesses.
Employee theft can be tricky to combat, which is why business owners need to implement a strategy dedicated to identifying and stopping it as soon as possible. To help you prevent loss, here are some tips for improving retail store security in Fort Myers, FL:
Check references and backgrounds: When hiring new employees, it’s a good idea to call provided references to get a feel for the potential employee’s work ethic, responsibility, and trustworthiness. If past employers say the new hire had a problem with theft, you should steer clear. Not only that, but you should run background checks on new hires to ensure they don’t have a history of theft or other concerning illegal activity. Hiring employees you can trust puts your business on the right foot.
Install security cameras: Security cameras are a good idea for both monitoring the activity in your store and preventing theft. Make sure employees know about the cameras to deter them from stealing items or cash. If they know they are being watched, they will be less likely to steal.
Lock up valuables and limit access: When employees of all levels have access to some of the most tempting items, like large sums of cash or valuable merchandise, it’s only a matter of time before something will go missing. Limit access to these items, so only managers or long-term employees you trust are able to unlock them.
Implement accountability policies: Maintain good records and implement policies for checking inventory and cash levels daily to help you keep track of assets in your store. If your employees know that you don’t check on your items or cash regularly, it’ll be much easier for them to get away with theft.
Provide a way for employees to report fraud: Chances are, at least one of your employees has witnessed their coworkers stealing from your business. However, if you don’t have a good way for those employees to come forward without fear of retaliation or conflict, they might not ever let you know. Implement a system for employees to report fraud securely, and then make sure you have a policy for investigating it thoroughly.
Hire a security guard: Sometimes, even the most high-tech security systems and policies can’t stop you and your business from being victims of theft. Your last resort may be to hire a security guard from a commercial security service in Fort Myers, FL. Having a uniformed presence in the store will help deter both customers and employees from doing things they shouldn’t.
If you’re looking to improve your retail store security in Fort Myers, FL and cut down on employee theft, contact the diverse team of security officers at American Pride Security Services. We’ve offered security and protection services for over a decade, from security surveys and consultations to uniformed officers at all types of locations. Get in touch to learn more!
When it comes time to hire a security service, you might be tempted to go with the lowest bidder. But bringing in truly qualified professionals will be a much more effective and prudent method of reducing threats to your home or business. You can’t put a price on the safety of your community or business, which is why bringing in a commercial or residential security service in Chicago, IL is a smart idea.
You may be having difficulty telling the difference between security services. However, it is important to think about the qualities you’re looking for in a security guard before you decide to hire one. Here’s how to tell a reputable service from just any security company:
Honesty: Like with any business interaction, honesty is paramount. You want a company that’s transparent with its pricing and that delivers on what it promises. Individual security officers need to be honest as well. After all, you’re entrusting them with the protection of your business or home. Do your research and find out about the company’s reputation. Talk to friends or colleagues, and look at reviews online.
Preparation: A security service that prepares well won’t just show up on the first night. Instead, they’ll want to discuss with you exactly the service you’re looking for and determine how best to deliver it. They’ll evaluate potential problems and offer solutions. Their security officers will be in uniform and ready to work—not just collect a paycheck.
Communication: A high-quality security service will communicate in a professional manner. Whether it’s by email, over the phone or in person, they’ll be clear and friendly in how they express themselves. This becomes especially important when an individual security guard needs to tell employees or members of the public about an imminent threat.
Training: Find out as much as you can about the security officers’ training program. It should be a rigorous education program that prepares them adequately for dealing with threats in the real world. Just giving everyone a badge isn’t going to cut it.
Fitness: While security officers may not be held to the same standards as police or military personnel, you should still be able to expect a certain level of physical fitness. You want someone who can respond immediately to any issues and who is generally fit for the job.
When it’s time to hire a residential or commercial security service in Chicago, IL, American Pride Security Services is here to provide invaluable help. We’re always there for you, whether it’s at work, school or an event. A security guard provides an effective deterrent against crime and threats. We also respond quickly and effectively to any threat to your home or business. That’s because we always employ highly trained security experts who are there when you need them.
Businesses and individuals throughout the Chicagoland area have come to trust us because we deliver effective and advanced security that gives you peace of mind. Plus, we’re a state regulated and licensed agency with a diverse staff, including military veterans and bilingual speakers. Call us today to find out how we’re more than just another security agency!
Having to let employees go can be difficult for everyone involved, and it is very possible that those who are being laid off might become very upset upon hearing the news. If this happens, you will need to make sure your company and the remaining employees remain protected from any potential threats with experienced commercial security service in Fort Myers, FL. Although this process will never be easy, here are a few things to keep in mind to help the situation go as smoothly as possible.
Efficient interactions
Timing is everything, and when it comes to laying off or terminating employees, it is best to try to do so towards the end of the workday. If you let an employee know you will be letting them go as soon as they come in, there is the possibility that they might return to the building later that day. If you give an employee the news on a late Friday afternoon, on the other hand, it gives them less time in the business day to return, and in turn gives them an entire weekend to cool down and process the news before making any emotionally driven decisions.
Should you have to lay off multiple employees, there is the question of whether you should break the news to everyone at once or handle each case individually. If you choose to give each person the news separately, other employees might catch wind of what is going on, which presents the opportunity for the potential theft of company data or property if they think their name will be called next. But while a group termination might limit access to company property, doing one-on-one exit interviews in which important facets of the layoff or termination are discussed and explained can help to eliminate confusion, which can do a lot for a former employee’s temperament. If you do lay off each employee individually, make sure to have at least one other team member in the room as a witness.
The need for security
The safety of your employees and your company is not something that should be taken lightly. Even if you don’t have any inkling that a terminated employee’s departure could become a problem it is still a good idea to err on the side of caution, and hiring a security company can be very helpful both during and after layoffs. With hired security on site, there will be a trained professional available to monitor the employee as they gather all of their personal effects and exit the building. Keeping the guard on site for a time after the layoffs can be beneficial as well, as there will be someone available if a terminated employee comes back to the site and has not cooled down yet.
If you need commercial security service in Fort Myers, FL to assist with a difficult layoff period for your company, contact American Pride Security Services right away. Our professional and knowledgeable staff has been well-trained for various workplace situations, and we can help keep your company and team members safe even when the tension is high. Give us a call today to learn more about all of the security services that we can offer you.
Whether you manage a boutique hotel with just a handful of rooms or you are responsible for a large hotel with hundreds of rooms, it is imperative to ensure that the guests, staff and the building itself remain protected at all times. While hiring a standard security guard can be effective and is certainly better than nothing, hotels are open to unique and varied threats, and as a result typically need specialized hotel security guard services Here are several things you should look for when hiring an experienced security team:
Proper training and industry knowledge: Because hotels deal with a unique set of potential threats, any security agency that is hired will need to have experience with hotel industry processes and procedures. A quality security firm will assess the property so that they can create tailor-made security services for your specific hotel, and the staff will be properly trained so that they can get acclimated to your needs quickly and seamlessly.
Licensing: Making sure that your security company is licensed before you sign any contracts is critical. If a company is licensed with the state, that means they are following all of the current regulations both with their company and its employees. It also shows that they care about their clients, as their licensed status can help protect you from potential legal ramifications as well.
Good customer service: Although the primary function of any security agency you hire is to protect your premises, there will be times in which they might have to interact with hotel guests as well. For this reason, any company you select will need to have guards with a good record for customer service so you can be sure that they will conduct themselves with proper decorum the entire time they are on hotel property.
Specialized services: The best type of hotel security service is one that can adapt to your needs. For example, there might be a language barrier between you and your clientele, and you may be in need of bilingual security guards. Or perhaps your hotel is known for creating a certain type of upscale atmosphere, and it is best for you to seek out a security agency whose trained guards can wear business attire instead of the traditional security uniform.
Reputation: The best way to gauge how suitable of a fit a security agency will be for your hotel is to do your research. Check with other hotels in the area that have employed an agency about the experiences they have had. Also check with the Better Business Bureau to see if the company you want to work with has an established history of providing exemplary service.
If you want the very best in hotel security guard services to make sure that your property remains protected at all times, contact the team at American Pride Security Services. With well over a decade of experience providing security in the hotel industry, you can rely on our highly-trained and customer-oriented staff to help keep your property protected. Make sure to give us a call today to learn about the many ways we can keep your hotel safeguarded and secure!
When you think about hospital staff, you probably think of doctors, nurses and the other professionals who are in charge of caring for patients. While their importance certainly can’t be understated, one of the other important jobs in a hospital is that of a security guard. A commercial security guard works behind the scenes in the hospital performing a variety of crucial duties that help keep everyone safe and keep hospital operations flowing smoothly. Continue reading to learn more about the role of our hospital guards:
Protect visitors and employees: First and foremost, a security guard’s duty in a hospital is to protect everyone in the building at all times. Whether someone is wielding a weapon or just threatening people with provocative words or actions, we’re always ready to protect employees, patients and visitors. There’s no telling what’s going to happen at a hospital at any given moment—trust our professionals to keep you secure.
Guard information: Hospitals are full of all sorts of private medical and personal information. One of our main duties is to protect that info from getting into the wrong hands. We help ensure everyone’s medical records are safe behind closed doors, so nobody gets in and accesses vital personal information. Keep your patients’ identities safe by hiring our guards to patrol your records office.
Keep an eye on medications: Drug addicts will stop at nothing to break into a hospital to steal powerful pain relievers. You can’t risk having all of those medications stolen—hire a commercial security guard to protect your prescriptions. We do our best to prevent all sorts of theft, especially the theft of powerful prescription drugs.
Respond to emergencies: When a patient’s condition suddenly goes from bad to worse, you need someone available to assist in any way possible. Even though our security guards aren’t medical professionals, we’re still able to help out in emergency situations. Even if it’s just helping a patient who’s fallen down, we’ll be there to get them back up and get them the help they need.
Greet and escort patients: Your patients want to see a friendly face when they arrive at the hospital. After all, they’re probably nervous and don’t want to be at the hospital in the first place. Place one of our security guards at the hospital entrance to help settle the minds of your patients by greeting them with a smile. We’re also able to point everyone in the right direction or escort patients to help keep foot traffic flowing smoothly.
Do anything else asked: A commercial security guard is on site to help out wherever he or she can. Regardless of the task, we guarantee one of our guards will do whatever is necessary to help out with the situation.
There’s no sense in leaving your hospital unguarded and unprepared for emergency situations. Give American Pride Security Services a call today to hire our team of professionals to keep a watchful eye on your patients, visitors, staff, information and medications.
