To be blunt, when much of the world thinks of security officers, they conjure up the image of an extraneous security guard contemplating a nap in their comfy chair while they digest lunch (it was Taco Tuesday). For members of the independent school community, however, security guards are often a crucial part of their campus life.
This doesn’t mean that guards are never a troublesome area for schools. In fact, we often hear from administrators who are tired of the constant turnover and general ineffectiveness of their security provider. A recent article in Campus Safety Magazine underscores this point nicely. Guards have some of the lowest median pay around, leading to a revolving door at the position. This is unacceptable for schools, and it’s one of the reasons our school partners are so satisfied with the security options available through Joffe Emergency Services. Read on to find out how we create stable, successful security programs that keep schools safe.
Better Pay: This one is pretty self-explanatory. We start our guards at a higher hourly rate than the median salary, and provide consistent rate increases over the course of their employment. Money talks, and when employees are treated and compensated fairly, their performance improves.
Better Benefits: Here’s how I know that Joffe Emergency Services provides better benefits to its guards than the vast majority of other security companies. We offer benefits...AT ALL! From health and dental to sick days and more, Joffe guards are treated as the important part of the company they are. Here’s why that matters to you. Many security positions are treated as stopgap or temporary jobs, and thus attract employees who view the job similarly. We want and expect guards to take their heavy responsibility seriously, but that’s a two-way street. Benefits demonstrate and underscore the seriousness of the position as well as allowing for us to keep good guards longer.
Build a Consistent Relationship: Some security companies funnel their available guards to different venues and other clients beyond your school. Not us. Our Joffe guards are trained specifically to serve schools, from CPR and First Aid to threat assessment and abuse prevention. Not only that, they are trained specifically on the unique variables at YOUR school. These consistent assignments allow for officers to develop relationships on your campus, become a dependable part of the community, and understand your school’s specific security challenges. Consistent, reliable scheduling means that guards develop a routine and feel a sense of stability in their job. It’s a mutually beneficial dynamic both for our Joffe Officers and for your school.
Room for Growth: Just about every company says they’d like employees to see a future with them. We put our money where our mouth is. Multiple former and current guards have taken on additional responsibility at Joffe, from video editing to marketing and sales. Guards feel more engaged with their daily duties and job as a whole when they feel like they can follow a path to a larger role in an organization. We hire smart, kind, and energetic individuals to keep your school safe. Most importantly, if we trust them enough to protect your community, we know they can improve our company as a whole too. Go ahead, ask other security companies how many of their guards are a part of their larger mission. We trust our guards immensely, because they are entrusted with serious responsibility.
As the Campus Safety Magazine article reiterates, you get what you pay for. The reason we pay our guards more, treat them better, and give them opportunities? We want to make sure that our partner schools get thoughtful, cheerful guards who know their responsibilities and are positive contributors to your campus in every sense. Joffe cares about our employees and about safer schools, and we know that there’s a strong link between the two. Learn more about our security program by checking out some of our other articles below!
Five Signs Your Security Team is No Good
Here's What Your Security Guards Should Do Every Day
School Security Equipment List
How to Tell Your Child's School They Need Security
