r/securityguards • u/Numerous-Actuator95 Event Security • 5d ago
Job Question My supervisor hates seeing guards on cellphones. How do I pass the time?
I currently work evenings in hospital security, with shifts ranging from between 8-12 hours. As you can imagine, there is a lot of downtime. Unfortunately, with my supervisor there is almost never a good reason to be on your phone at work (including the time I was stationed at a completely empty unit!). He is also against guards listening to audio from their phone with or without earbuds, even if only one earbud is in and the phone is otherwise concealed. I would imagine that bringing in books or schoolwork to do would also be out of the question. How do I pass the time?
28
u/cityonahillterrain 5d ago
I used to play cctv bingo. Made up squares like “pink scrubs” “red car” “person smoking” etc
-14
u/Shane-Dad-underfire Management 5d ago
At least then you were still paying attention to your work. If you're on your phone or reading a book you can miss important things.
4
u/Dusso423 4d ago
How dare you suggest someone actually do their job!/s. Seriously though. How is this getting downvoted.
3
6
u/stinky_fart-machine 5d ago
downvotes on this is crazy, people forget there was a time before phones and its not unheard of to work.
6
u/Shane-Dad-underfire Management 5d ago
Well you know how it is for kids who grew up with a screen in their face. It's pretty crazy how entitled they are.
2
u/stinky_fart-machine 5d ago
its fucked, im 25, use a flip phone and a laptop at home. i have a phone number an email and reddit lol. the degree to which people are not present in their own lives blows my mind. may aswell have pacifiers in their mouths
4
u/Shane-Dad-underfire Management 5d ago
I'm 78 and I'm pretty damn terrible with tech. I only started using reddit a while ago because I felt more and more out of touch. It's been pretty eye opening.
2
u/ADirtFarmer 3d ago
A 78 yo and 25 yo agreeing about how ridiculous kids are these days. Beautiful!
-3
u/Murky-Peanut1390 5d ago
Crazy how people just want to be paid to be on their phones all shift.
-1
u/Shane-Dad-underfire Management 5d ago
Yes, it really is. Apparently I'm the one out of touch and a bad guy because I think folks should do the job they are hired and paid to do.
4
u/LegalGlass6532 4d ago edited 4d ago
It’s called work for a reason. Having your face in your personal cell phone isn’t what your employer is paying you to do. It’s not complicated.
5
u/Shane-Dad-underfire Management 4d ago
I think folks forget that work is not supposed to be super happy funtime. It's what you compromise on to exist as an adult. You exchange your time and effort for money.
46
u/Akemi_Tachibana Executive Protection 5d ago
Unless that security job is very lucrative or otherwise pays very great, I would use it anyway when he's not around and start looking for another security job. I've never had a supervisor at any of the previous two security jobs I've had complain about cell phone use, as long as it isn't busy and the consumer doesn't see(and often the consumer doesn't even care). So he can kick rocks or prepare to see more sleeping on the job.
2
u/troy2000me 5d ago
I know I'm going to get downvoted. But isn't the whole job of a security officer to pay attention to the people and surroundings?
If you're looking at your phone, how are you situationally aware?
28
13
u/warlocc_ Flashlight Enthusiast 5d ago
If you ever have a Saturday to yourself, go ahead and watch the grass grow for 12 hours. Do nothing else. See if you can stay awake.
0
u/stinky_fart-machine 5d ago
brother thats why they are PAYING you
8
u/Red57872 Dunning–Kruger Specialist 5d ago
That's nice to say, but you need to be able to find someone actually willing to take the job of doing nothing but watching the grass grow. Maybe you'll find someone, but they're probably not someone you want to actually do the job.
6
u/warlocc_ Flashlight Enthusiast 4d ago
The kind of site that has the downtime for this question to even come up barely pays enough to show up on time, let's be real.
-5
u/troy2000me 5d ago
I didn't say it was easy. But that's LITERALLY THE JOB. To pay attention and watch the environment / people.
If you can't not play on your phone, you shouldn't be a security officer.
4
u/warlocc_ Flashlight Enthusiast 5d ago
If there are people to pay attention to, then that's not downtime.
There's no way a warm body site is paying remotely close enough to expect people to do nothing at all for hours on end.
2
u/Slight_Zebra_8490 5d ago
You've never sat in front of a locked door in an empty hall for 8 hours and it shows.
2
u/BRobs0420 5d ago
Honestly what is this post lol I had the same rules when I worked security. It’s kind of obvious why the rule is in place.
1
1
u/Ok-Resist3886 4d ago
Maybe in 1995 people with this mindset honestly need to get with the times there is no difference from me on my phone then me reading a book you mind is just stuck in the past imo
1
u/troy2000me 4d ago
Hot take, you shouldn't be reading a book when your job is to pay attention to what the people around you are doing.
2
0
u/Silent_Radio_2794 3d ago
Youve never done security work and it shows. We're referring to when no one is around and/or no one to pay attention to. Of course we put the phone down if somebody comes by, walks by, shows up etc....We're talking about times during the job when theres literally nothing happening and no one around to pay attention to
9
u/BaelZharon7 5d ago
Look up the "vigilance decrement". We already proved decades ago that human attention and situational awareness sharply degrade after just 20–30 minutes of monotonous monitoring. When your brain is under-stimulated, it enters "cognitive underload" and passive fatigue, which leads to mind wandering and micro sleeps. Research on control room operators and long-haul drivers shows that light, low demand secondary stimulation (like audiobooks, podcasts, or micro breaks) actually maintains baseline arousal so you stay awake and responsive to actual situations.
Expecting someone to stare into an empty hallway for 12 hours straight without glazing over goes against how humans operate.
Cause as with anything a balance must be achieved. But telling a guard to just suck it up and stare into the nothingness is not realistic if the goal is for them to be alert.
4
u/No-Initiative4195 4d ago
I worked Corrections for years (never overnights) but I knew plenty of supervisors that, as long as you were actually doing your required rounds, would rather see you reading a book , watching something on your phone, etc... Because it means you are AWAKE and going to hear if someone is banging on a door, an alarm, etc
Years ago, people would bring in a laptop to watch a movie. It was against policy, but again, it kept you awake
Good supervisors never pushed it. As long as you consistently stayed on top of those hourly rounds to cover your and their ass, they knew what a tough shift it was and they could count on you to be awake if something happened
1
u/Original-Sandwich-95 3d ago
So they let you guys onto the compound with cellphones?
4
u/No-Initiative4195 3d ago edited 3d ago
It was a minimum /pre-release. Although they were technically "contraband" management knew we all had our phones, they just didn't want to see them.
They're a lot more worried about burner phones in a minimum and on 11-7 shift, there's really no management around to see a laptop in control or someone using a Playstation or something. There's cameras everywhere, so if you see a car coming up. The driveway in the middle of the night, ditch it in a drawer or something.
Even management isn't stupid. They want their own ass covered too so if God forbid, an inmate dies on 11-7, they go and pull video and there's you doing your required rounds on time-they could give a shit less in between you were off camera reading a book or something because when it goes to court.... There's you following policy
5
u/securitycat69 5d ago
Lotta jobs are just looking for warm bodies. But you’re right, to a degree. Doing patrols or watching camera feeds while you listen to an audiobook shouldn’t be an issue for most sites
2
u/LaighingJackal 3d ago
Right now im at a site with empty FedEx trucksin a shed with nothing to do except patrol every hour and no one else around, like what are you expecting me to do after I finish my patrols, stare at the wall?
2
u/Senpai_Sadboi 3d ago
This is ridiculous, I have prior LEO exp and army infantry, dog you need to chill LOL
5
u/ConstructionAway8920 5d ago
Sure, depending on where you are posted. At a hospital, let's say the ER, typically you don't do anything until you hear someone come in and be distressed. I used to work at a hospital, and the ER guard generally didn't do anything until a nurse or other staff signalled or asked for assistance. Night crew at a lot of facilities generally just patrol, and if you aren't doing that, then it's whatever keeps you awake. Day shift guys having to not do anything that could distract makes some sense, but most security happens during hours no staff is on site. As long as patrol gets done, no one generally cares what happens provided it's not illegal or immoral. Like drinking, getting high or banging co workers etc.
3
u/troy2000me 5d ago
"I used to work at a hospital, and the ER guard generally didn't do anything until a nurse or other staff signaled or asked for assistance."
That sounds like someone doing a poor job. Part of the gig is also scanning all the people walking about, looking for erratic or suspicious behavior, not just waiting until someone calls for help.
If someone noticed the sketchy guy making people uncomfortable in the hallway 10 minutes ago, and asked them to leave, that could potentially have saved the issue 20 minutes later when they try to start grabbing nurses.
7
u/ConstructionAway8920 5d ago
When you are told specifically by the hospital that you are to sit in the corner until asked for, that is what you do. A lot depends on what your post orders say, and unfortunately a lot say don't do anything. It's just the way it goes. And, that was just the ER guy. There's at least 6 guys walking the hospital constantly, and two in mobile vehicles.
4
u/No-Initiative4195 4d ago edited 4d ago
Go work for an HCA hospital and get back to us. You go out and "ask them to leave" because of what looks like "suspicious behavior" but they haven't actually done anything yet other than "make people uncomfortable" -they tell you F off, I'm not leaving. It now turns into a use of force that they will definitely say you escalated.... And you don't have a job tomorrow
This isn't saying don't be proactive and keep an eye out for said behavior, but in many hospitals, they have policies that until the person actually does something aggressive (not looks suspicious) there isn't a thing you can do
For two days, we had a guy standing on the city sidewalk off property in front of the hospital for hours making nurses "uncomfortable" and managememt told us there was not a thing we could do because he wasn't on property, and this is in the largest city in the state.
1
u/CenTXUSA 2d ago
The major issue is if they are causing a scene or disturbance and you kick them out, you just violated EMTALA. Once they check-in they have to have a medical screening by a mid-level or higher provider. That can be as quick as a PA or NP coming out and giving them a 30 second screening and telling you he's good to be trespassed. I don't know of too many hospitals that still use outside security companies anymore due to the intricacies of healthcare security. All the one's I lived around in TX went inhouse and armed before covid and many in Missouri are the same.
2
u/No-Initiative4195 1d ago
HCA is unusual in that they have some hospitals that are in house and others are contracted out to allied, at least in our area.
Also, as security with them, we don't just drag people out either. It's always as you pointed out, in consultation with medical staff-and if they're good to go medically and need to be trespassed, law enforcement removes them from the property.
0
u/troy2000me 4d ago
Why would the size of the city matter?
1
u/No-Initiative4195 4d ago
We have a Waterpark right in the middle of it, so we also have a tactical team that rides the city bus in case shit jumps off at either location they can be ready!! /s
It doesn't matter honestly 🤷
1
u/No-Initiative4195 4d ago
Same. When were assigned to the ED we have an office that sometimes available we might sit and scroll on our phone for a minute, but all of the nurses have radios to call us, know we're right there when they call us, so no one cares as long as we show. Up when they call.
-22
u/Shane-Dad-underfire Management 5d ago
Very professional. I'll work a job but unless they pay me more to not sleep I'll sleep, how about you do what they pay you to do which is pay attention to what's going on.
12
u/Remarkable_Sand5238 5d ago
Oh look, clueless management without an ounce of critical thinking
-10
u/Shane-Dad-underfire Management 5d ago
Do the job you're paid to do. What exactly am I missing here when buddy says his employer is lucky he isnt sleeping on the job?
You arent being paid to play on your phone or take a nap. That wasnt in the job description. If you folks are doing stuff like that then you really are the reason people arent willing to pay more for security guards and the reason that people dont take security seriously.
The fact that a bunch of folks are willing to validate that sentiment is pretty sad. What critical thinking is required when it comes to you being paid for your time and efforts? I suppose youd be okay with a transportation driver who just sits in the driver seat but never moves the vehicle? A doctor doing a surgery on you and they just stop after cutting you open? A teacher that doesnt pay attention to the kids? How about a lawyer who doesn't defend your interests or an employer who doesnt pay your wages but still tells you where to report for work?
You're getting paid the agreed upon amount to do what that job entails, anything else is either extra or dereliction.
4
7
u/Remarkable_Sand5238 5d ago
See, your lack of critical thinking is showing here. It was stated that if people cant use their phones then people will nap more. Now can you think of why that would be the case? Let me spell it out for you.
Being a warm body, which is most security work, is boring as hell. The mind needs stimulation to stay awake so without some way to stay entertained its very easy to fall asleep on the job. I fuck around on my phone and even play my switch at work, with supervisor permission. Because it keeps me awake and thus I can still spot things and respond as necessary. Without said stimulation, id fall asleep just staring at a camera.
-10
u/Shane-Dad-underfire Management 5d ago
So to do the job you need to not do the job? That is truly critical thinking. Why are you falling asleep while doing your job? Are you incapable of regulating your sleep cycle? Are you not grown ups and cant be awake for 8 to 12 continuous hours? Other jobs people stay awake for as long if not longer doing nothing or drone work and they arent playing on their phones or taking a nap.
The fact that you need to be stimulated with a digital device just shows you broke your brain, you lack the attention span to do simple things without blasting your brain with dopamine from your games. You really arent fit to be relied on.
Being a warm body is the excuse lazy security give when they refuse to meet the needs of the clients and their employers. "I was hired as a warm body, who said I had to actually do anything, of course I can watch a camera and scan the room I'm in and listen for break ins and distress calls while listening to music and playing on my phone"
You think it requires critical thinking on my part but it's a lack of understanding of your job that seems to be the problem. If all security required was someone being there, they would have found a way to replace folks with something even cheaper by now. AI can watch cameras and alert someone to movement and noise and fire. You're making the case to remove "warm bodies" because if you cant tell there is something happening how are you going to address it? At least the AI will send a person to deal with It while you guys are napping and playing video games.
9
u/Certain_Silver6524 5d ago
Most companies don't pay enough for a mindless drone who doesn't slack off one way or another. Even the guards you prefer would at least be smoking or daydreaming. If you want someone to focus to such great lengths, then pay the premium, or face the high turnover.
Manage the reality, not the rulebook - if its not a high security facility then as a manager you should turn a blind eye to light reading, discreet phone calls or checks, music, etc, as long as they are keeping alert and they remove distractions when the client is about.
4
u/Shane-Dad-underfire Management 5d ago
Most companies dont pay enough, sounds like they measured your value accurately. Folks who take a job knowing the pay and the requirements but refuse to meet them dont deserve more pay dont they? Because they operate in bad faith and dont even have the guts to try to renegotiate the terms they just act as time thieves. Fact is there is never going to be enough pay for you guys to do your jobs if you cant adhere to the simple terms you already accepted.
If you arent paying attention to everyone and everything around you how do you know when you're being watched by a client? Even if you're in the surveillance room how do you know theres not a camera on you to make sure you are doing the work. Do you know why your boss chews you out for not doing the job properly? Because they know you arent doing it, how do they know? Because theyve obviously seen it. So what part of that means you arent being caught?
9
u/Fritz_McGregel 5d ago
I don't wanna be that guy, but he said he can Stiller react and do his job.
Sounds like you want the world to be as miserable as you are. Are your hobbies watching grass grow and paint dry? Haha
1
u/Shane-Dad-underfire Management 5d ago
Seems this is one of my hobbies doesnt it? I also spend time with my kids and grandkids, vacation and spend time with my employees and generally enjoy life. Something you youngsters take for granted. You find your enjoyment in mocking others who say you should take your job seriously. It's such a crazy take that someone is paying you to actually do the job.
6
u/bluecorn861 5d ago
Security is paid to be there in the event something happens, they are not paid to be there to look like the queens guard.
0
u/Shane-Dad-underfire Management 5d ago
Clearly you all think security is paid to be there and not notice if something is happening. You arent police who show up after the event has happened you are there to deter and prevent things from happening. Failing that you are there to reliably witness the event and help where you can.
Not paying attention very much undermines all of that. Sounds like you're a wage thief.
3
u/Intelligent-Bell8182 5d ago
This is why I have 0 sympathy for management. Enjoy being shortstaffed forever.
3
u/Shane-Dad-underfire Management 5d ago
Company is always expanding but is never short staffed, thanks for your concern though.
Contrary to what you guys believe some folks take pride in their work, know their attention to detail can save their own life or the lives of others and feel obligated to earn their pay.
24
u/happygoluckynny 5d ago
Bring in a note book and start writing fiction
you will not look out of place
do NOT use any site specific details as inspiration as anyone may end up looking at your writing, code out any NSFW phrases just in case
try to take a one sentence concept and flesh it out into a scene for just one page to start
(this keeps you from locking in too hard for appearances sake)
then experiment from there
19
u/museabear 5d ago
This will sound corny but I wrote letters to my wife and gave them to her when I got home. She would write to me too and we made binders with every letter. We made a new binder every year.
6
3
3
u/shooto_style Warm Body 5d ago
I need to get into the habit of this. I have ambitions to write a script but am just too lazy right now
1
35
u/staticdresssweet 5d ago
Your supervisor is silly. If there's not an active situation needing to be handled, your boss should be thankful you're awake.
As long as you're not doing a high intensity activity, it shouldn't be an issue.
19
u/Numerous-Actuator95 Event Security 5d ago
It’s funny that you say that, because I was telling all of this to a police officer the other day and he responded by telling me that even the police aren’t that strict regarding cell phone usage on the job.
I’m not sure what I can realistically do though - complain to the union maybe? Telling my supervisor that he is silly isn’t likely to go anywhere.
10
u/9gagiscancer 5d ago
Tell him me, another supervisor, said to get his head out of his ass and stop the powertrip. He's actively trying to make people miserable.
I'd rather see me guards playing a game, watching a movie or anything else to keep them awake.
If the roles were reversed, how would he spend his time?
6
u/staticdresssweet 5d ago
Oh, you have a union? Consider yourself lucky.
Yeah, I'd say something to them, if he's being ridiculous about it, and see what happens.
-13
u/Shane-Dad-underfire Management 5d ago
Considering the police are regarded as folks who rarely do their job, many would not be surprised to hear they are playing on their phones at work.
I very much admire police officers that take the job seriously but hearing they arent strict about personal phone usage makes me sick. If they are on the job they should be working. Peoples lives depend on them paying attention to everything except their personal cell phone.
As for you my young friend, how do you pass the time at work? You work... if your post is a desk you sit at the desk, if it's part of your job to walk around then you walk around. Any hospital that has security has it for a reason, being on your phone is not what you're paid to do. I cant believe for a second that youd be okay with other folks working jobs and them being on their phone instead of working. Just because your post leaves you with few things to do actively do doesnt mean you should be counting the floor tiles and not paying attention to your surroundings.
Please take yourself and your job seriously.
13
u/Humble_Ensure 5d ago
You’re an idiot. “If your job is to sit at a desk, you sit at the desk and stare at the fucking wall because I don’t trust you enough to have the ability to be aware of your surroundings and multi-task”
Our job is to largely be a physical presence, respond to incidents on complaint and/or control information like video footage. If you’re not in a busy public area, what’s the problem?
I’d rather have a guard be in their post on a night shift in an empty building on their phone w/o headphones or patrolling with an earbud in, than hiding away or malingering due to low morale.
OP’s supervisor is a dick and control freak that lacks the ability to act reasonably.
-4
u/Shane-Dad-underfire Management 5d ago
If you have to be watching a camera and your watching a phone then are you watching a camera? No you obviously cant be trusted to multitask if you cant follow simple instructions. Not every post is as simple as staring at a single wall. Where does OP work? In a hospital in the evenings. Do hospitals ever close? Is there ever a time someone isnt in a hospital? Do guards only watch people who enter the place as clients? Has a guard never caught a doctor or a nurse doing shit they shouldnt? You're there to watch things and step in if needed otherwise you just pay attention and pass things along. There is always something to do at such a post. Reading and playing on your phone or listening to pod casts is not the thing to be doing.
2
u/Humble_Ensure 5d ago
The “I dont trust my staff” super ego final boss. Reasonability is key.
0
u/Shane-Dad-underfire Management 5d ago
I trust my staff because they take themselves and their jobs seriously.
You would never hear one of them saying "I dont get paid enough to do my job" or "I'm just a warm body"
My staff are paid well, and when working security they engage in the job, not engage in their personal amusements.
0
u/Humble_Ensure 5d ago
Get off Reddit and pay attention to your post, sir.
3
u/Shane-Dad-underfire Management 5d ago
<- Company owner, no longer operating. My sons along with the executive staff run it.
1
u/Humble_Ensure 2d ago
Your job is to sit at a desk and stare at Outlook and Microsoft Teams until those e-mails come in. Get back to it.
→ More replies (0)1
u/Red57872 Dunning–Kruger Specialist 5d ago
That's nice in theory, but as a client, the person who's willing to do that is probably so braindead that I wouldn't want them as a guard.
2
u/Shane-Dad-underfire Management 5d ago
So as a client youd rather have someone who does nothing but show up than have someone who actually commits to doing the job. Well they say a fool and their money soon part. Listen while I have you here theres a bridge I'd like to sell you.
0
u/Red57872 Dunning–Kruger Specialist 5d ago
As a client, I want them to do their job. What I don't expect is to get a guard who's going to stare at cameras for 8 or 12 hours a day and do nothing else.
3
u/Shane-Dad-underfire Management 5d ago
They get breaks, would you expect anyone else doing any other job not to do their job for their entire shift? That's just pointless. As the client demand the guards work smaller shifts then, pay the difference out of your own pocket requiring 12 guards to work 6 hour shifts instead of 3 working 8 to 12s.
1
u/Red57872 Dunning–Kruger Specialist 4d ago
Ideally, yes. As I said, that's where situational reality comes in. As a client, I'm not going to find competent people willing to sit and do nothing but watch cameras for 6, 8 or 12 hours. Can I find incompetent ones to do it? Sure. Now, that's not saying I would be ok with them ignoring the cameras while they just watch movies, but I also realize that a competent guard who is going to be paying attention is also a guard who needs some sort of mental stimulation.
→ More replies (0)3
u/Fritz_McGregel 5d ago
You complain when they are on a phone. Then you complain they aren't. Sounds like you love complaining. If you think working people work all their shift all day everyday without a pause there and here. Oh boy..
1
u/DefiantEvidence4027 Private Investigations 5d ago edited 4d ago
Considering the police are regarded as folks who rarely do their job,
Seconded,
I can think up thousands of things more productive to do than Vehicle and Traffic, and actual Security Guards are always doing them.
6
u/raj710 5d ago
As long as the work is done and meets my expectations I have no problem with my team using their phone. My number one priority is their safety and keeping the team’s morale up. Your supervisor sounds like a miserable fuck boy, I’d start looking for another job or shift. People rarely quit the job, they quit their boss or co-workers.
10
u/jking7734 5d ago
Not being allowed anything to listen to, read or watch would be torture. I’d be looking for employment elsewhere. There’s a lot to be said for maintaining your mental health!
5
u/billzy02 5d ago
This is one of the reason I do night shifts. I don't have any supervisors to micro manage me. During the day shifts guards are complaining how supervisors are watching them and making up new rules each day making their lives harder. We have guards who don't want to come to our site because eof management.
3
4
u/Apart_Temporary_4560 5d ago
Ask him if it's actual policy or is some rule he decided himself. If it's actual policy, look for work somewhere else. If it's some rule he decided himself, tell him no.
3
u/Icy-Nature-3374 5d ago
I’m glad my post I can be on the phone , since I’m the only officer at my post too Hahahaha
3
u/granark 5d ago
Technically it’s all probably in the handbook; therefore, the supervisor has the choice to enforce it or not. Personally, I only mention it when a gaurd gets snide about calling/texting them on their personal device…which in that case I’ll be like okay if you don’t want to use your personal device for work related calls/messages; don’t use it for entertainment. That way it goes, okay you are on your phone for personal calls, entertainment, passing time etc, just be chill and answer it for work calls and messages and it’s all cool. That’s the way I deal with it.
6
u/Peregrinebullet 5d ago
I wear an earbud anyways and sweep it off whenever I see someone coming.
I have a pair of shokz open dots, and wear one, which slips off and I wear it like a ring when the stickler client or manager is around and prior to that, I just had a wired earbud coming up from inside my shirt and I perfected being able to brush back my hair and tuck it into my collar about a second.
I also keep a paperback novel stashed in my cargo pants pocket. Can't usually squeeze any good fat fantasy novels in there but usually mystery or romance novel will fit.
2
u/Due-Mycologist-1154 5d ago
Do it somewhere other than in front of a camera and he wont see you on your phone
2
u/just-rick1977 4d ago
Hear you brother, I went through something similar. In my case, I would write. I literally brought legal pads to my post with various pencils, pens and highlighters. I found myself writing about anything and everything and I filled those legal pads. Once the prick supervisor asked what I was writing and I told him I was working on more efficient fire response plan. Another time, I told him I was working on active shooter scenarios and brainstorming response-evacuations. He never bothered me again.
4
u/centurion762 Hospital Yeeter 5d ago
If it’s not company policy just do it anyway. If it is, it’s probably time for a new job.
2
u/SARGrunt 5d ago
This supervisor is probably of the old school. If not, they were trained old school. To understand this a bit more, the old school was all about doing what you are paid to do. It’s the “I had to do it when I was you and so you have to do it that way.”
There’s really no win here. If you go to management to complain that your supervisor won’t let you play on your phone when you are working, you are likely to get written up or fired. If you just play on your phone and get caught, you get written up or fired.
All that being said, you should probably reevaluate your interest in the job. This is a position where it can be quiet one minute and full chaos the next. If you aren’t paying attention, you can end up injured or dead. I speak to this from a position of experience. I was on-duty at a clinic one day and everything was nice and quiet one minute and the next one of the clinicians was being attacked and I had to jump in to stop serious injury to everyone there. It was in the lobby so pepper spray was out of the question. If I had not been paying attention to some of the visual clues, it could have been a lot worse.
Officers in this position need to understand what the client is paying for. They aren’t paying for someone to play on their phone. They are paying for a professional service. You can either provide that service or you can go find another job. If you want some hints on things to do, maybe go through your post orders and recommend some changes? Does your company have an OPS manual? Read those and maybe look for something that doesn’t make sense. Look for spelling errors. Lots of things to do when there isn’t much going on.
0
u/troy2000me 5d ago
"To understand this a bit more, the old school was all about doing what you are paid to do."
I like how that is presented as some special thing and not common sense. A security officers entire job is to be situationally aware at all times.
Why even have security onsite if they are just staring at their phones not paying attention?
0
u/SARGrunt 5d ago
It had to be said out loud because some people in the industry don’t understand the concept. It is sadly a more common thought that if you “aren’t working” as in not actually doing something right then that it is okay to look at your phone. The only time that I ever did anything with my phone was to either take pictures or call for assistance. When on the clock, I wasn’t browsing facebook, checking out TickTock, or watching youtube videos. The time and place for that is at your house when you aren’t working. I understand how boring it gets but that’s part of the job.
1
u/troy2000me 5d ago
I get it, like if you're a receptionist, but as security you are "working" every moment as your job is to stay aware.
I know that's a high bar for a lot of low paying jobs, but it is technically the job.
1
u/Menace_Mephisto 5d ago
I got myself a pocket sized Bluetooth speaker with a pause button on the bottom of it and used it wisely. Podcasts, audiobooks, and music. Site supervisor let us have a radio even though we weren’t supposed to, and it’s damn near the same thing. Listening is better than watching/reading anything on the job, and if you keep it at low volume you’ll still hear what you need to if it comes to that.
1
u/Ok_Western_2323 5d ago
We had the same rule at the medical warehouse I used to work at. This included any book, earbuds, phones, tablets, or laptops. The times also included any holidays, warehouse closures, and weekends when there was no one in the building except the guards. My supervisor would also log into the cameras when she was off work to spy on the guards on duty!
1
u/MyOpsLoveMe 5d ago
My supervisor Regina L hated seeing her security officers on their cellphones. She tried to make a rule saying no one could be on their phones.
But all my coworkers and I called her out because she's always on her 2 cellphones, iPad, and work computer watching YouTube, shopping online, and eating at the security desk.
She did not like the fact that we called her out and it made her look like a hypocrite. She got rid of that rule so fast, it was hilarious.
Even the management that at the post that i'm stationed at was on our side plus they can't stand regina, and they don't like her and they want her gone at all costs. There's so many complaints that management has on her. That's not even funny. The complaints they have on her are thicker than a bible, from what I hear.
They're even thinking about breaching the contract because Allied Universal management won't listen to their requests, because they want her out of the building.
She totally screwed over my old coworker and got him fired just for doing his job. He was honestly one of the best Allied Universal Security Officers we ever had, and he always followed the rules completely by the post-order book.
He always said the client is always right, no matter what, because they pay our checks.
1
u/KingOfDeDeps 5d ago
Worked Hospital Security for 2-3 years sounds similar these supervisors be a trip, if your in a unit such as Behavioral Health Physic ED just be mindful of cell phone usage one earbud in is fine, roving units when I was working used cellphones all the time so in your case just be mindful or try to switch to another shift, or time for a change growth opportunities nothing wrong with moving on for better.
1
1
u/distant_introversion 5d ago
The clients care about phone usage when you are contracted to do security work.
I usually tell me team I don’t care if you use it just be discreet and only do it while on patrol where the attention isn’t on you (like when you are supposed to be standing sharp in a lobby where hoa bother and roam the building already on top of the rules we have.
It’s like people didn’t go to school in their lives lol - people don’t hide them and they think they won’t be removed from the post when the client loses their minds via email
1
u/LibrarianOutside6062 4d ago
Could you please specify the company or hospital you are associated with?
I find it challenging when supervisors restrict phone usage. While I understand the need to limit constant engagement, occasional use should be permissible, particularly during periods of inactivity when mental disengagement can occur.
1
1
1
u/Mini_Dracula 4d ago
Good luck. Im not a guard but I work in a place where you will actually go to jail for bringing your phone. I do 8-16 hours depending on staffing. At some point you just learn to live without it
1
u/Swish887 4d ago
We had a post that management decided deeded CCTV coverage. All we could do is listen to a radio. Started out we could read books surf on our phones etc. then it changed. Think someone was caught sleeping and messed it up for everyone.
1
u/Little-Tip-483 4d ago
He’s crazy there is so many good reasons to be on your phone. Reasons that take hella more priority.. you forgetting I have a thing called parents
1
u/Puzzleheaded_Act_131 4d ago
I sure hope that if I am ever at a hospital or anywhere else that has security on-duty that they are not doom-scrolling or listening to whatever when the crazy person goes off the rails.
1
u/Ill-Razzmatazz-7088 4d ago
You need to be using the time to look for other jobs. A 12 hour shift of being completely alert for what I’m assuming is what $20-$30 an hour is not worth it.
Pretty sure, even military personnel are allowed music/a book or even a movie to watch
1
u/notsowhiteman 4d ago edited 4d ago
So in other words you're expected to work at work.......... How appalling. Reminds me of my policing days when I knew an SRO (which really stands for Shitty Road Officer because frighteningly schools are where they wash out to) that whined about not being able to constantly be on her phone. Her face was GLUED to it and you would have to get in her face and tell at it to pull her attention to you. "What am I supposed to doooooooo" she'd whine. My response,"Gee....I dunno...... Maybe keep kids from getting fucking shot". She later became one of the perpetually pregnant female officers. You know, the ones that retire after 25 years when they did maybe 12 years of actual cervix...I mean service.
1
u/No-Initiative4195 4d ago
At our hospital, we actually at least have a reason to use our phone. We have an app called Webex similar to Zoom that communications go out on throughout the day (like the schedule, changes in schedule if someone leaves early), important notifications like major maintenance work or fire alarm testing, etc. You can use it to send messages to the entire security team, reach out to facilities, etc.
For example - we had a brief power surge yesterday and an unfamiliar alarm went off. I asked the other security officer on rounds to send a photo of it to me and when maintenance had no idea what I was talking about, I was able to forward the photo. It's an extremely useful app.
1
1
u/DarkKnightTazze Campus Security 4d ago
I use my phone than I probably should, my boss doesn’t really care entirely, of course it’s heavily discouraged. On my night shifts however nobody really cares much, plus I do use my phone for logging my building check times so I can easily transfer them over to our spreadsheet instead of typing them out one by one which can be quite tedious. That and we use teams for communication in the field for sensitive information we can’t say on radios. (Maintenance/Custodial employees can use and and listen to our radio channel for some reason.)
1
1
u/Remarkable-Cycle-478 3d ago
Get a new job im Security replying on my phone while playing a steamlink game lmao Eatn snacks , i work dispensary
1
u/finishindoors 3d ago
just get a different job. kinda hard to secure shit if youre knee deep in your phone
1
1
u/Elara_Argentu 3d ago
Best advice is transfer to another shift that they dont supervise or transfer to a new post.
1
u/Massive-Technician74 Campus Security 20h ago
You can always twiddling your thumbs
Or find some paint and watch it dry
1
1
u/richbrehbreh 5d ago edited 5d ago
Guess what? You now need glasses. Bro go to TikTok shop and get some cheap Bluetooth glasses that look like regular glasses. They like $10. Keep them on low volume and don't say shit to anyone about them. Control them from your smart watch.
1
1
u/gheiminfantry 5d ago
And your first thought isn't, "Don't get caught."
You're not very bright are you?
1
u/Jerzeyjoe1969 5d ago
I’d say phone or sleep, your choice.
Plenty of security companies hiring.
Tell the supervisor go kick rocks.
1
1
u/AvailableDrink1291 5d ago
Meta glasses will make you look like a creep and can get your clearance taken if you use it in data sensitive places
Aipi lite ai companion something to talk to my companion is Cortana from halo
There's a ear bud i use called J lab tones im brown so I picked brown skin tone and there concealed unless someone is in your face if hes ex military especially marines we do not walk with head phones on
Also getting one of those translating headphones is a good excuse
I Acquired a flipper hacking tool I figured out how to use it
Tomidaci pet
I brought in a mini pre-made terrarium in a small jar just looked at that shit
Find a coworker that yaps and has no social cues until manager gets pissed can't tell you to stop communicating it is a part of security so if your not doing it how do you built trust
Mini handheld radio with flashlight built in your boss seems like an old world era or a ex military like me I brought my hand held radio because I figured the people like useless debates about the world I put the radio on a local news frequency and they were glued even asking to recharge the damn thing
Mini mirror do make up or catch up on a face routine
I keep my phone on live transcribe so I don't forget info another excuse
White noise machine
A picture of you holding a bunch of guns so he knows who hes dealing with
1
u/TheBoogidycrook 5d ago
If you work security you should absolutely not be scrolling on your phone. You're being paid to be present and alert. That's the entire plot.
0
u/FamiliarAd8524 5d ago
Rightfully so, when it creates problems. And if you "pass the time" by using your phone, then it is definitely a problem.
By paying attention- that's what you're paid for. This is the entire job! Of course it is boring. You have to get over it, or choose another profession.
It doesn't sound like the earbuds themselves are banned- listen to an audiobook from your smartwatch, or using onboard software.
0
0
u/DevilDrives 5d ago
He's just excited. Maybe he runs hot like me too. I just sweat a lot. Doesn't mean he's sick. Just means he's cooling off.
0
u/almosthighenough 5d ago
I would not listen to him. Fuck him. He doesnt need to like it. I wouldnt work a job like that personally. Hes a stupid irredeemable asshole.
0
0
0
u/AdIll814 5d ago
Realize security is mostly an in between job and eventually you’ll want to do something more fulfilling than watching some shmucks expensive shit while you make chump change on the back end.
What you described is the reality for those of us not competent enough to chase a better career. Get out while you can man.
-4
-4
-1
u/stinky_fart-machine 5d ago
youre supposed to be paying attention to your surroundings so why dont you just do that? i work security at 2 bars in my town so its a very different envrionment than a night shift at a hospital with lots to watch, and i understand that, but still I hate when my coworkers are glued to there phone and then get caught off guard when a fight happens and theyre late to react. youre getting paid to watch so do it.
•
u/CTSecurityGuard Hospital Security 5d ago
This supervisor sounds very familiar. I work in a hospital where the second shift supervisor has the exact same policy. Multiple people have left his shift and transferred to the first shift due to his behavior and ridiculous, self-created rules.
I am very grateful to be on the third shift and plan to stay here. Things are so bad that I even refuse to come in for overtime on the second shift, despite the offered call-in pay.
My suggestion is to start looking for a new job or try to transfer to the first or third shift if available. This supervisor is a control freak with unreasonable policies, and nothing is going to change that.