Pros
Decided to make a review due to a lot off inaccurate information posted in reviews. I've been involved in most aspects of this company in one way or another; starting from Entry Level to Management over the course of several years. My advice to new hires: Work hard, ask questions, be active and vigilant, report everything, be self-motivated and have a positive attitude. Wages are on-par or above what other company's pay. Starting out, a regular Security Officer with no experience can earn around $14 an hour depending on the location; some more, some less. Special Response Officers start out at $17 an hour, with plenty opportunities for OT. This is an on-call position, and very demanding, so it requires someone reliable and responsible. It is not for everyone, hence the higher rate of pay. Some of the SRO's make more than upper management due to the amount of OT they've chosen to work. Supervisors are typically below SRO's in wages starting out, but the trade off is you're not on call and you gain the management experience. Moving into management is where you can start to see your real increases as you are no longer bound by union contracts. Annual Increases on the 1st of the year per the union contract, no need to negotiate. Good benefits, especially for Union employees. Promotions almost exclusively from within. Not based off of favoritism as at least one person wrote, but based off of work ethic and ability. If you feel you are ready to be promoted, reach out to someone in management whether that is your Supervisor or Account Manager. If you are not getting where you want to go, move higher on the chain. Many times people think they're being looked over for promotions have not voiced their interest. Also, consider feedback you've received. Are you improving in areas your direct supervisors have pointed out need improvement? If not, do so and see where that takes you. With all of that said, sometimes as with any company, it can come down to being in the right place at the right time and knowing the right person. It's about positive exposure. Fastest growing Security Company in the Pacific Northwest. There are opportunities for upward mobility if that is what you are seeking, and management that will help you get there if you put forth the effort. I can typically tell within a month of working with a new hire if they are management material, make a strong impression out of the gate. As a note to that, most of the upper management started as regular Officers or SRO's who excelled in their roles. Some will advance faster than others based on experience, education or just plain doing a great job, it's not based off of seniority. Everyone thinks they should be promoted. Earn it. We're always looking for people who can handle more responsibility and we will give you a shot.
Cons
There is no 401k or retirement plan, although it has been discussed as a future option. Without that, it is very difficult to consider this company as an absolute career; despite being compensated well. As someone in management, there's been many occasions where I've considered looking elsewhere due to this. Work/Life Balance is difficult to achieve if you're an SRO or in a salaried position. It is not as simple as 40 hours a week, go home and relax. As an SRO, it can be difficult to make plans unless you discuss it with your supervisor first and agree on getting the time off. If you're a manager, you're never really "off". Communication is a challenge. The company is growing rapidly, people are being moved around, their roles expanded, new roles being implemented and there are times where critical changes are not communicated down the chain leading to confusion.