Kate

Security University in Sacramento Next Week

If you still haven’t registered for Security University, what are you waiting for?

This two-day training will be valuable for all security professionals regardless of length of time in the industry.

Day 1 topics include: BSIS Compliance and Audit, How to build a BSIS compliant Employee File, Training Certificates, Insurance, Safety and Compliance, Pricing and Transitioning New Business, P and L Management and Client Rate Increases

Day 2 topics include: Recruitment and Hiring, Best Employee Practices, Staffing and Termination, Legal Pitfalls, Contracts, Indemnification and Contractual Deal Breakers

Security University is sponsored by TrackTik
Serving over 450+ clients worldwide in 35 countries and 6 continents, TrackTik helps secure more than 210,000 facilities and is used by over 200,000 users. The firm is renowned for its commitment to its clients and continuous product development. To learn more about TrackTik and how it can help your security operations, visit: https://www.tracktik.com/

Click Here for More Information about Security University

Register Now for Security University

Sacramento Security University tickets will be available until Monday, February 18th at 5:00pm.

Tickets and full details for the Southern California Security University will be available March 1st.

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Schedule and tickets for the Annual Conference are now available!

Visit the CALSAGA Annual Conference & Exhibits page for complete details.

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Kate

The 2019 First Quarter Edition of The Californian is Now Available

The 2019 first quarter edition of The Californian: The Quarterly Newsletter of CALSAGA is now available!

Click here to read The Californian.

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Kate

The Californian 2019 Q1 – ALIANZA: BLAZING A TRAIL FOR Q BY TEAM SOFTWARE

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ALIANZA: BLAZING A TRAIL FOR Q BY TEAM SOFTWARE

Team Software Team

For small companies with distributed workforces, like the contract security industry, site level visibility, managing hourly staff and keeping communication lines open are key areas that can make or break the business. While spreadsheets, emails and texts can suffice for a while, those tools typically aren’t sustainable, growth-enabling or without complexity. For Alianza Security Professionals, a small, private security company based in Dallas, Texas, setting and delivering on high standards is the company’s competitive differentiator. By developing a distinct culture of service and accountability along with adopting security industry-focused technology solutions to support it, the up-and-coming company has gained a foothold in the Texas security market with 11 guards and more than 10 service locations.

Alianza uses Silvertrac’s guard touring solution combined with a new field workforce management toolset for small contractors called Q by TEAM Software. Q enables companies to direct, set and track the operations of their distributed workforce. As an always-on solution, Q helps manage and track productivity, open up communication and retain the employees who are making an impact. In other words, Q strongly aligns with Alianza’s strategic goals, supporting accountability in the field, more communication and, ultimately, better results.

“There are a few problems within the security industry, and they are massive. I know the pain points,” explained J.D. Torres, Alianza Principal and Founder. “Guards are asleep on the job or leaving the property. They don’t show up. They’re late, or don’t know when to show up.

“The biggest benefit of Q so far has been the scheduling piece and the ability for staff to clock in and out on site,” Torres continued. “It’s an accountability tool for them to know when they need to be on site, and I want to make sure my staff have the tools to be successful.”

A technology solution along with appropriate processes help boost the reliability and service quality of Alianza’s workforce. In addition, for Torres, simplicity is key along with a basic set of features, including the ability to communicate the schedule and see who is onsite and on time, in real time.

“The scheduling functionality is cut and dry and much simpler than the previous scheduling software I had been using,” Torres said. “Q really fits my needs right now, especially for my industry.”

With Q’s streamlined scheduling and time and attendance capabilities, Alianza can capitalize on its promise of accountability to customers. Plus, proactively managing the schedule benefits the company in many ways, including overtime prevention, better site coverage and accurate customer billing.

“This is the tool that we depend on, and I tell [our prospective customers] the value that it brings,” said Torres. “I put both Q and Silvertrac in my sales deck. I’m telling my clients what differentiates us in the market, and that’s accountability.”

Along with right-sized, industry-specific technology, Torres and partners back up their accountability promise to clients by building a culture around delivering on high expectations. According to Torres, that helps them win business when up against bigger, more established firms.

“It’s the difference between McDonald’s and Chick-Fil-A. The culture is different, and training is different, but price point is the same,” he said.

Torres explained that Alianza builds their culture and reputation through smart hiring practices, focusing on people eager to grow and pairing skills and experience with the right position.

“I have a different recruiting effort,” said Torres. “I’m not interested in someone who has worked a foot-patrol post for five years. Those people have figured out how to cut corners, and they aren’t interested in growing or moving up. I’d rather have someone who is new to the industry, and who understands what my expectations are.”

Torres and his team also see a need at sites for a bilingual workforce in the Dallas area to bridge communication gaps and ensure continuity among all services providers.

“We’re building a bilingual workforce because there’s a huge disconnect between janitorial contractors, day porter staff and the security staff due to language barriers,” he noted. “They’re handing off important things, like keys, and no one knows what the other is saying.”

Torres and his team have their fingers on the pulse of the security industry. That’s apparent through their approach to service as well as in their hiring practices. And, as an original beta  customer, Alianza has provided pivotal input and feedback on Q to ensure the solution serves the needs of the small market security contractor.

“It was a crazy kind of thing. We [at Alianza] were developing our security offering at the same time TEAM was developing the Q product,” Torres said. He also knew TEAM Software and had  used TEAM’s signature ERP software, WinTeam, before, too. So, there was a familiarity and natural alignment throughout the  beta experience.

“I felt like we had a partnership with TEAM right from the start,” he said. “TEAM seems like it’s a part of my company. That’s where the real value is. And, that’s who I want to be for my clients. I want to give them the kind of service that TEAM is giving us.”

 

About TEAM Software

TEAM Software develops financial, operations and workforce management solutions for contractors with distributed workforces of any size, with a focus on the building service

and security industries. TEAM’s efficiency-enhancing technology transforms business management and drives profitability. TEAM’s industry-specific solutions range from a complete enterprise software ecosystem to a right-sized workforce management toolset that connect key components of customers’ businesses. Founded in 1989, TEAM is an Omaha, Nebraska-based technology company with more than 400 customers all over North America. For more information, visit teamsoftware.com.

About Alianza Security Professionals

Alianza is a private security company licensed by the Texas Department of Public Safety, that provides integrated security, private investigation services and risk management services to corporate, individual and non-pro?t clients. Alianza leadership has been inside the industry for decades, have identi?ed the “pain points” in the industry and have worked tirelessly to separate themselves from the rest of the pack.  How? Through training, communication, coordination, execution and methodology. Visit alianzasecure.com to learn more.

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Kate

The Californian 2019 Q1 – 6 TIPS TO RETAIN GOOD SECURITY OFFICERS

6 TIPS TO RETAIN GOOD SECURITY OFFICERS

Kwantek Team

Turnover is always a challenge in the contract security industry, but not all employee turnover has the same impact.

While losing mediocre employees creates more work for you, losing your best security officers can impact the health of your business.

If you’re struggling to retain your best security officers, follow these six tips.

Ensure Job Fit From Day One

No one wants to work at a job that prevents them from spending time with their families or forces them to work in an environment that clashes with their preferred working styles.

To keep your security officers long-term, make sure you’re putting them in an ideal position on their first day on the job. Follow these tips to ensure you’re hiring the right person for the job:

  • Tip #1: Determine what shift they want to work. The hours that people work have an impact on their personal time. To retain your security officers, put them on shifts that complement—rather than impede—the things they want to do in their time off of work.
  • Tip #2: Find out how they like to work. Some people thrive when they’re surrounded by others. Others thrive when working alone. Determine the ideal working conditions for each new security guard, and place them in roles that match those preferences.
  • Tip #3: Ascertain their long-term goals. Some employees may have goals to move into supervisory positions. Others get bored easily and want to learn something new every few months. Find out what new security officers are looking for in the future, then, for example, you can create paths to promotion or plans to move them into new roles.

Sometimes, you can ascertain the answers to these questions during an interview. However, when people are just hoping to get hired, they may give you the answers they think you want to hear rather than truly honest answers.

A better way to find out what each new security guard needs is to use Kwantek’s Working Style Assessment. Our pre-hire assessment asks prospective employees a series of questions that help you determine the best job fit for new security officers, providing you with honest answers about each employee’s preferred working conditions, ideal environments, and long-term goals.

Provide Great Security Officers with Incentives to Stay

Getting new employees in the right role is just step one of retaining them. Once they’re in their positions and doing great work, you need to make an effort to incentivize them to stay.

And while the most obvious incentive is increased pay, that may not always be a viable option for your business. Luckily, there are plenty of other ways to keep great security officers engaged:

  • Tip #4: Offer unique benefits. Even if you can’t afford frequent salary increases, you can make your position better than others your security officers may be considering. Consider increasing the amount of paid time-off your best security officers get, moving them to locations closer to their homes, or offering free snacks and coffee at work.
  • Tip #5: Create a great culture. Creating a great culture doesn’t require a monumental effort. Sometimes, it’s as simple as making your employees feel heard. Build a culture where everyone feels valued by making sure employees have regularly scheduled meetings with their supervisors where they’re free to ask questions and share concerns.
  • Tip #6: Provide incentives to stay. Consider offering officers an annual bonus for each year they stay on the job, giving your most tenured officers their choice of shifts or locations, or creating a promotion path that satisfies the goals of ambitious officers.

Retaining your best security officers isn’t always a matter of offering the highest salary. By providing your security officers with a work environment that makes them feel comfortable and valued—and benefits that provide them with a better work-life balance—you can create positions that are much harder for great security officers to walk away from.

Avoid Turnover and Retain Your Best Security Officers

Sometimes, high turnover—even among your best employees—feels inevitable in the contract security industry. However, if you put people in the right roles from day one and offer unique incentives for great employees to stay with your company, you can stop the revolving door and start retaining your best security officers long-term.

If you’re interested in learning more about how Kwantek’s Working Style Assessment can help you identify the best candidates in the pre-hire process, click here to schedule a demo.

 

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Kate

The Californian 2019 Q1 – HOW TO CUT OPERATING COSTS FOR SECURITY BUSINESSES

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HOW TO CUT OPERATING COSTS FOR SECURITY BUSINESSES

Mark Folmer, CPP, Msyl, TrackTik

When you run your own security business, there are several important investments that help you provide quality service to your clients such as training for security guards, uniforms and equipment. However, with modern management options, you can streamline your business, cut costs, deliver quality service and keep your security business profitable. Here’s how you can cut operating costs by 35% and increase profits for your security business:

Improve Service with Tracking and Data Analysis

Security companies live and die based on their ability to provide quality service to their clients. Tracking key field processes and using data analysis to improve your security performance is vital for lasting success in the security industry. By using software to track the location of security agents in real time, you’ll be better prepared to contact the nearest available operatives when additional support is needed. As you improve your team’s incident response time, client satisfaction will increase, allowing you to retain clients and gain valuable testimonials for attracting new business. Digital reporting software can also make it easier to analyze patrol and incident-related data. By matching tracking data with guard-uploaded incident pictures, video, and written comments in a digital database, it becomes significantly easier to review information so you can make informed decisions for streamlining your field operations.

Track Business Intelligence Data

Leveraging data isn’t just important for improving your team’s fieldwork. And while different security companies may value different KPIs (key performance indicators), there’s no denying that one of your top priorities should be to optimize operations and maximize your return on investment with each client. Investing in good business intelligence technology is essential for your success. With business intelligence tools and smart analytics, it becomes easier to identify common profitability pitfalls, such as inefficient employees, a high guard turnover rate, or client sites with costly overtime expenses. When your software can quickly match your accounting and scheduling data against your KPIs, it becomes easier to identify areas where change is needed. With business intelligence data at your fingertips, you can gain a better understanding of your business’s direct costs, anticipate staffing and coverage needs, and identify trends that could be hurting your profitability. With better data, you can make smarter budgeting decisions for the future.

Save Time by Streamlining Back Office Administration

Serious security business entails a large amount of documentation in the handling of your security agent workforce. That means a lot of time spent on administration and office work, covering everything from scheduling to payroll. If you can streamline these necessary processes, your team can spend less time on mundane day-to-day tasks and concentrate their efforts on delivering quality security service. When computer programs calculate, you gain efficient, controlled data that is automatically tracked and reported. Alternatively, modern scheduling software allows you to input important data regarding client needs, guard availability and certifications, reduce unbillable overtime, avoid costly errors, and other factors to automatically generate future schedules that match the right guards to the right clients, at the right site. Automating these and other similar processes will save you time and money by helping you avoid human error in schedules, payroll reports, and other documents. In addition, these reports will give you greater understanding and control over your office operations, helping you identify ways to allocate funds towards optimizing security operations. And you’ll be closer to your goals of faster, better service.

Go Paperless!

Do you have stacks of paper piling up in your office? Incident reports, contracts, invoices, schedules, and other paper documents can add up quickly. Not only do the costs of paper and other printing supplies add up over time; you’ve likely experienced the workflow issues of misplaced or lost documentation at least once (per week…). Modern back office management software allows you to replace paper reporting by digitally distributing important information to your clients, suppliers, and employees. These streamlined reports will ensure that vital information is never lost in a stack of papers so you can keep your clients happy–which is ultimately your best way to stay profitable. With digital reporting software, important information can be sent to clients and guards alike via email, text message, or push notification, creating a digital dialogue that is easily tracked and managed. As you digitally track your field operations, automate select tasks, and use intelligent data, you’ll be better equipped than ever to improve your security business operations and increase your profitability.

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Kate

The Californian 2019 Q1 – “WE DO WHAT OUT THERE?” HAVE YOU CONDUCTED YOUR POST SURVEYS YET?

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“WE DO WHAT OUT THERE?”

HAVE YOU CONDUCTED YOUR POST SURVEYS YET?

Barry A. Bradley, Esq., Bradley & Gmelich, CALSAGA Network Partner

The best way to defend your business when you are hit with a wage and hour lawsuit (whether by an individual, a class action, or a Private Attorneys General Act [PAGA] claim), is to have conducted a well-tailored post survey.  It is a tool that your account managers should implement to show that your company has gone through the mental and physical assessment of each post and shift to be compliant with the law.

In just a few minutes, a post survey will assist you in helping to determine such things as:

  • Are the officers able to be provided off-duty meal breaks?
  • If not, why not?
  • Are valid on-duty meal period consents and policies in place?
  • Are the officers taking their required rest breaks?
  • Are the rest breaks truly “off duty?”
  • Is there adequate seating in compliance with the Labor Code?
  • Is there heat illness prevention policies and procedures in place?
  • Is there potable water available?
  • In interviewing the officers, are there blind spots about which you weren’t even aware?

These are just a few of the questions that can be answered in a good survey.  Your particular situations will be different, depending upon the type of client you have and the type of security services offered.

If makes it much easier for your attorneys to defend you when we can pull out your completed site surveys to show that you made valid, good faith actions to comply with the law. In short, it makes us happy.  (And we know how you care about your attorney’s happiness – it brings you good karma!)

If you haven’t yet prepared or updated your specific policies to be compliant, or if you need post surveys prepared for your particular line of work, don’t hesitate to contact your counsel to help you. We often “train the trainer” and, in these instances, train the account managers so they know how to do these surveys on their own.

A little effort on your part will not only save you grief, but ultimately a lot of money.

Barry A. Bradley is the Managing Partner of Bradley & Gmelich LLP located in Glendale, California, where he heads up the firm’s Private Security Team and oversees the Employment and Business Teams at the firm.  A former Deputy District Attorney, Barry’s practice concentrates on representing business owners in employment, business and licensing issues, as well as defending litigated cases involving negligent security, employment and business related issues.  The firm acts as general counsel for many security companies in California.  Barry is the Legal Advisor to CALSAGA.

He has been conferred an AV-Preeminent Peer Rating by Martindale Hubbell, the highest rating attainable, and has been named a Southern California Super Lawyer for the past 14 consecutive years in the area of Business Litigation.  Barry is also the recipient of CALSAGA’s Security Professional Lifetime Achievement Award. bbradley@bglawyers.com  818-243-5200.

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Kate

The Californian 2019 Q1 – SAFETY & THE IMPORTANCE OF ACCIDENT INVESTIGATIONS

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SAFETY & THE IMPORTANCE OF ACCIDENT INVESTIGATIONS

Shaun Kelly, Tolman & Wiker, CALSAGA Preferred Broker

At the beginning of each year, I always reflect back on the prior year to see where I could have improved and identify which area of the operations need the most attention. In doing so, safety always comes to mind, because it involves all operations and has a significant effect on the overall efficiency and productivity on the business of my clients. Safety is a process that always needs to be updated and modified to maintain a safe workplace for your employees and others. This reminded me of accident investigations and how important they are in the safety process.

All accidents should be investigated and it’s for one simple reason, to stop them from happening again. This may sound quite basic but let’s put it into reality, the main purpose of an investigation is to identify the causation factors and then identify any preventative or corrective action to prevent reoccurrence.

There are many other reasons for investigating accidents including legal litigation, insurance claims, workers compensation, company reputation and sometimes contractual requirements.

Please understand and remember that any investigation has certain deliverables and expected outcomes. This is why we need to continually assess and evaluate safety policies and procedures throughout the investigation, so that we can proceed down the appropriate path.

To refresh your memory, the following are the basic stages in an accident investigation:

STAGES IN AN INVESTIGATION

  • OBTAIN FACTS
  • DETERMINE THE CAUSES
  • DETERMINE THE CHANGES NEEDED
  • RECORD THE FINDINGS
  • COMMUNICATE THE FINDINGS
  • REVIEW ACTION

 

OBTAIN THE FACTS

Establishing what is relevant and what is not can be time

consuming. However, this information can be obtained by:

  • Inspecting the immediate scene and equipment
  • Interviewing the person directly involved with the accident
  • Interviewing witnesses to the accident
  • Reviewing procedures and training

 

Inspecting the immediate scene and equipment:

The accident scene should be inspected as soon as possible

after the accident. Particular attention should be given to

the following to see if any of them had a bearing on the

accident potential:

 

  • Positions of people
  • Any personal protective equipment
  • Tools and equipment
  • Orderliness/tidiness
  • Procedures

Wherever appropriate, photographs and/or sketches should be

taken of the scene. This is of particular importance where

there is a likelihood of the scene being disturbed – e.g. to

make the area safe.

 

Interviewing:

Ideally this should be done in familiar surroundings so as

not to make the person being interviewed feel uncomfortable.

If the person is not too seriously injured, then the accident

site is ideal as the person can explain what happened.

Remember this should be an interview to determine the facts

not an interrogation. Witnesses should be interviewed one at

a time.

 

Reviewing procedures and training:

The work procedures set out in appropriate guidance and any

risk assessments should examined to see if they existed and

were adequate, if they we were understood and followed.

It is also important to establish:

 

  • Any training received relevant to the accident
  • Any past incidents/accidents
  • Any risk assessments in relation to that particular

activity to see if any weaknesses have been previously identified.

 

Determine the causes:

After all the facts have been ascertained the causes can be

examined.

 

Obvious causes: The obvious causes are easy to find.

They are brought about by an unsafe act or condition. Unsafe

acts usually stem from poor safety attitudes and indicate a

lack of proper training or information.

 

Root Causes: These are personal or job factors that are

brought about by failures in organization and the

management’s safety program. This can include factors such

as;

  • Lack of supervision or discipline
  • Lack of training
  • Lack of management awareness

Determine what changes are needed

The purpose the investigation is to prevent a reoccurrence.

To do this some practical measures must be recommended and

carried out that will demonstrate a commitment to reduce

this identified risk. The remedial action may be short and

/or long term and may involve changes to the physical

environment – e.g. putting in place new guarding on

machinery – and/or procedural changes – ensuring an adequate

training program.

 

Record findings

The findings of every accident investigation must be

recorded in a systematic way to enable the report to be read

by the appropriate people who are responsible for reviewing

and implementing necessary changes. It also provides a

historical record of the accident that may be useful in the

future.

 

Communicate findings

Good communication is a very important part of the safety

effort. Information of an accident and remedial actions

should be passed to all relevant staff who may encounter

similar incidents.

 

Review action

Where action has been implemented as a means of reducing the

risk of an accident reoccurring, those actions must be

periodically reviewed to ensure that they remain

appropriate.

 

I have included a Sample Accident Investigation Form for your review. There are many different types of investigation forms available.

Please feel free to call me if you have any questions and have a great 2019!

Click here to view a Sample Accident Investigation Form

Shaun Kelly joined Tolman & Wiker Insurance Services in 2005.  He specializes in all lines of property and casualty insurance for industries including contract security firms, agriculture, construction, oil and gas. Shaun received a BS in Business Administration with a major in Finance from California State University in Fresno, California. He is an active member of several industry associations, including the Association CALSAGA, the Kern County Builders Exchange and the Independent Insurance Agents of Kern County. Shaun can be reached at 661-616-4700 or skelly@tolmanandwiker.com.

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