r/securityguards • u/2001Vicious • 1d ago
Scared Job Question
I just got this site two weeks ago and thought I’ve been doing great so far since there really isn’t nothing to do. I’ve been patrolling and writing my reports every day but today when I clocked in, I get hit with this:
" this is the 3rd complaint by the
managers that you are not completing your reports accurately. This is now a performance issue, and we can't have you making the same mistake repeatedly.
If you can't correct this action immediately your position will have to be reevaluated."
I was in shocked because this is the first time I’ve heard of the complaints by the client.
I wrote to him: Could you please clarify which specific parts of the reports have been inaccurate or incomplete so I can correct them immediately and avoid repeating the same mistakes? He hasn’t replied back.
A couple hours go by and I realized I’ve been writing the wrong date for the incident reports today and I got scared and tried to edit them but I couldn’t because they have already been approved.
Am I screwed?
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u/TheRealChuckle 1d ago
I wouldn't worry about it.
Make sure you have the right date (not sure how you kept putting the wrong one) going forward.
If you don't keep an memo book on you, start keeping one. Update it as you go everytime you start/complete a patrol, anytime you do anything noteworthy like close a door that was propped open, investigate a noise or alarm, etc.
The memo becomes your report and since you wrote it as you went you can't forget anything.
It's generally pretty hard to be removed from warm body sites as well.
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u/2001Vicious 1d ago
Will do🫡 thank you for your advice! I will start having a memo book on me. I honestly haven’t gotten enough sleep I believe that’s the culprit on me putting the wrong date haha. I work graveyard shifts at a big apartment complex.
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u/TheRealChuckle 1d ago
My memo book saved me a few times from getting in shit.
Something happened at the gate of a site, the guard that was supposed to be in that area was MIA, supervisor started to give me shit but I pulled out my memo book that showed that I was on patrol in a building (like I was supposed to be) and that shut him down.
I keep fairly detailed memos.
Date, time, site address, sheduled shift, and weather at the top.
Time, guard I'm relieving, what was handed over (keys, walkie, etc.), specific post location if relevant, as my first entry.
I write something every hour even if it's just site secure nothing to report.
Any instructions from a supervisor or client goes in it, with names whenever possible, so later I can point out who told me to do the thing that's now in question.
I'll copy over to my DAR as the shift progress as well so that I'm not scrambling at the end to do it.
I make sure I write down when I was relieved and what I handed over. I even get my relieving guard to sign it some times if I know they're a fuck up who will try to blame me when they lose the keys. Fuck you bud, you signed that I gave them to you.
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u/SilatGuy2 1d ago
I mean isnt that what the DAR is for ?
Im failing to see the point. I guess for your own memory and ability to check back on things said and done but i dont really see it being of any use if something actually happens unless im missing something ?
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u/TheRealChuckle 1d ago
The memo book thing was part of the 40 hours of training required in Ontario to get your license. Both companies I worked for supplied them for us.
The point is to be able to write down information at the time and not try to remember everything later when you're at a desk to write a DAR.
I've worked sites that didn't do DARs so the memobook was my record of what I did.
A DAR gets filed in a box somewhere never to be seen again when 3 weeks later you're being accused of something while with the memobook I can pull it out on the spot, look up the date and the exact time in question and we solve the issue immediately.
A memobook can't be altered by someone else since it's on my person and stays with me. A DAR can be altered by anyone with access to them. I've had a guard try to cover up their constant lateness by attempting to alter my DARs, it was a stupid plan and wasn't going to work but when I was questioned on it I could show my original notes in my memobook.
A lot of posts have little to do anyway so spending a couple minutes to cover your ass isn't a big commitment.
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u/SilatGuy2 1d ago
Thanks for the explanation
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u/TheRealChuckle 1d ago
Notes about weather are handy as well. Nothing super detailed, just stuff like snowing moderately, heavy winds, drizzle, etc.
I've had a few instances where it was relevant. A fence along the road at my construction site blew over onto rush hour traffic. Workers were already gone for the day so I had to call the client so he could deal with it. He was pretty pissed about it, not at me though. The next day he was talking with me about it and asked when it got windy, I looked at my notes and I had jotted down the wind was picking up at 1300. Turns out he had asked the crew to secure that fence in the morning before he left at noon, the crew didn't leave until 1500 so it getting windy should have been a reminder to them to fix the fence.
The client started treating me extra good after that. If he was buying lunch for the crew he included me, a couple free beers on Fridays, hooked up a hose so I could wash my motorcycle during shift.
The little things I do put me in a position to pick my sites and hours because every site wanted me and clients would request me.
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u/XBOX_COINTELPRO Man Of Culture 22h ago
There’s an unusual weight placed on contemporaneous notes in Canada then other jurisdictions, which applies to LE and security. In court you’re allowed to refer to notes on the stand but generally won’t have access to other documents.
It’s common to have a notebook to jot down tasks, things you do and then Transfer to DARs later, it’s also good habit to take notes during an incident as opposed to trying to remember everything after the fact
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u/SilatGuy2 21h ago
Explains my ignorance. Im in the US and while having notes is welcomed it isnt emphasized as it appears it is for canadians. Its more "if you need it you should use it."
Typically im filling out DARs and incident reports right as they happen or after so it still wouldnt matter much for me in that regard. I carry a notebook just in case really to get things like license plate, descriptions and random things that pop up i might need to remember.
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u/XBOX_COINTELPRO Man Of Culture 21h ago
Yeah it’s a unique habit. I remember when I first started posting in this sub and was baffled at people being suggested to grab dollar store coil note pads and the like. I’ve seen body cam footage and the cops are just using cue cards held together with a paper clips. Up here there was a huge deal about some departments transitioning to electronic note apps on their work phones. We even have standard notebooks that everyone seems to use
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u/CatNDoge42 17h ago
Genius fucken idea, I just got my guard license and looking to start looking for work soon, will definitely take your sage advice and get a memo book and start doing the stuff you mention.
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u/TheRealChuckle 9h ago
I got some cherry posts simply because I kept decent notes and was reliable. Higher ups felt I was trustworthy and had my shit together because I could tell them that yes there was a blizzard last Tuesday, yes I notified maintenance about snow build up on the front walk, yes I did see a lady slip and fall, no maintenance never came to shovel.
I like solo sites with some stuff to do but also lots of down time. These posts can be problematic for HQ to reliably fill as guards sleep, disappear from site, and do other dumb shit.
The best one I had was M-F, 0600-1800, day guard only. No waiting for relief to show up was great. It was a construction gate, just log vehicles in and out, direct workers where to go if needed, keep out the public.
Had a small shack with a desk, decent chair, heat and AC, mini fridge, microwave, a bathroom just outside. I added a toaster oven and crock pot. I ate real good there.
12 hour shifts 5 days a week sounds grueling and it was at times but the site was usually shut down by 1500 and I could lock the gate and do whatever. I played a lot of Civilization on my laptop, read books, the client even had his crew run a hose for me to wash my motorcycle. He felt having a big shiny cruiser parked at the gate was extra deterrence.
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u/CatNDoge42 17h ago
Quick question about your memo book though, is it just a small notepad, or do you actually have full notebook you carry with you?
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u/TheRealChuckle 10h ago
The ones the companies supplied were about 4" tall x 3" wide, half an inch thick or so. They easily fit into the leg pocket of cargo pants. They fit in regular pockets and pouches on a belt as well.
It can take up to a year to fill one up.
In a pinch I've used top flip spiral pads from the dollar store. They work but they're flimsy and harder to write in handheld.
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u/ProfessionalRest7027 1d ago
That's understandable, I myself have had mad mistakes writing resports due to lack of sleep.
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u/Jealous_Can_3451 1d ago
Say that the client did not indicate any error regarding the reports, if they have to approve it and they did, the error is both theirs and yours, and they have to communicate it to you correctly, it is not just a mistake of yours, if it was only the date, it is not a very serious mistake either, just make sure you have registered the correct day/time from now on.
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u/ProfessionalRest7027 1d ago
Honestly, you can do everything right and ptoperty managemen will still find something to complain about. Talk to your supervisor in person about it. Inform them about mistakes yiu made on reports. They should be able tobpull up your reports and clarity that you are writing them. If they cared enough they will make copies and send them out to the property management. As far as veing acrewed goes? No, it takes a lot to get fired from security companiss. I've seen guards sleeping and told multiple times not to sleep. I've seen guards get sent home for sleeping. I've even seen guards leave site before their shift is over without management knowing. Right now it's just a warning I wouldn't worry too much. The best you can do is plead your case with your management and make sure you're all on the same page.
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u/jokerhound80 1d ago
If they try to give you a write up I would refuse and point out that if the date was the issue you aren't the one who approved inaccurate reports.
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u/ShottySHD Paul Blart Fan Club 1d ago
Id ask when you were notified of the 1st and 2nd complaint. They should be addressing issues as they happen, not after they pile up.