Negotiate a fair and functional contract

We accept the liability because it’s our responsibility to our clients, but it’s not as simple as that. I would like to explain using my 28 years of experience.

Knowing fine line.

While the line may be fine, there is a line and to me it’s the line is defined into two areas. The two are liability and responsibility.

Liability .

We are are libel, we are in the Security business and have accepted the liability, it’s the cost of doing business plain and simple. At some point you and your company will be facing some sort of lawsuit, that’s the nurture of the beast.

But we have accepted that because the rewards will always outweigh the loss. People will always seek a way to attack your credibility and intentions so my suggestion is to evaluate your policies on training and standard operating procedures.

Responsibility.

Our responsibility goes beyond our clients needs and request. We are responsible to our employees and families.

If you are reading this, and have a company then I would hope that you have protected yourself and your family by filing your company as an Limited Liability Company (LLC). If not then you need to file this right now. There are many online sites that will guide you through the process at a very reasonable cost.

Now that we have the LLC process either started or completed, you are ready to face the liability side, and further understand our responsibility.

Our responsibility is to ensure a safe community for both our clients and our staff.

I often told my security staff that the most difficult job we have as security officers is “Protecting people from Themselves”.

So think about for a second and I’m sure you have encountered this multiple times.

I learned this lesson the hard way. I once had a client receive a bogus complaint of criminal activity. It was bogus because our records and the records of the Police department did not confirm the complaint. I was directed by the client to relocate our security to patrol the area of the bogus complaint. I informed the client this was not a verified complaint and the relocation of security officers would create a gap in coverage. My reasoning was ignored and security was relocated. Result was three vehicles broken into as I predicted. Lesson learned. After this, whenever I was given instructions on how to do my duties, I would smile and nod. Then evaluate the direction I was given and proceed in the best interest of the community. But you do what you feel necessary, just understand that when the three vehicles were broken into I was asked why, needless to say, reminding the client of my opposing and informing of the consequences did not go well. But I do believe that it stuck, because I was not told how to do my job and was informed of concerns and the concerns were left to me to produce a positive outcome.

Coexistence.

Understanding how we make the two work together. We all receive request or concerns from both employees and clients.

It’s your responsibility to listen and understand theses concerns and develop a comprehensive action plan.

The concern may come from your security staff, after all they are the ones that will be the front line to any changes and or request. It’s not uncommon for the client to approach the onsite security staff and add and subtract duties.

If the client is approaching the onsite staff and changes are being made without your knowledge then you need to be more involved with the client and you should be informing the security staff of changes, this creates a connection regather than a disconnect between you, your staff and the client.

You never want new request to go undocumented or unsupervised. Every change must be evaluated and new S.O.P.’s (Standard Operating Procedures) be in place and signed off by each and every security officer.

I am sure some of you may be thinking, do I really need to get this involved when the request is something so small? Well the answer is YES. And why? Because you are setting up the process and training your client and staff that there is a process in place that allows for a smooth and thorough change. Your client will appreciate your input and your staff will appreciate your involvement.

 

Final thoughts.

 

We are in a world that is ever changing and we must be ahead of the curve. We have to accept the liability and therefore the responsibility of our or any industry. It is your responsibility to ensure training, trading and continued training. Because when your operations are called into question you have answers, you have evaluated every S.O.P. And you can with conviction and confidence defend your processes and procedures. Keep in mind that even though you have S.O.P’s, training and good officers, that things happen and a bad decisions will be made, so be prepared to defend and accept Responsibility.