Primary Response Reviews

Pros

Best service at that time.

Cons

nothing, now this company has been taken over by Guarda Word

Pros

Nothing really, just the fact that you get paid is a pro and some coworkers are great to work with.

Cons

This place is run like a mafia, owners have complete disregard for employees, and hr department is a joke, they all need to go

Pros

Meaningful work, friendly management and atmosphere. Company has tons of shifts available, great sites (condos, colleges, high profile Toronto Community Housing, municipal government contracts), decent supplementary training (use of force, diversity, first aid, MLEO, etc), and the company will promote from within and give you the opportunity to prove yourself. Great company to gain meaningful experience.

Cons

Pay should be higher. Benefits should kick in sooner. Basic orientation is lacking. Guards some times don't receive enough training (or none at all) before they're placed at a site. HR needs to understand process of due diligence and will sometimes hire completely useless guards. Scheduling is at a disconnect with actual operations and will place guards who are not fit for certain sites. Generally management is slow to get things done (uniforms, issue of equipment, etc). Lacking operational structure and organization.

Pros

I did have a great time with my team - 12-hour shifts can create some great working relationships.

Cons

Supervisors tend to undermine team dynamics, they see it as a threat to their own control. They try all kinds of mind games to break up good partnerships. I had regular issues with my paycheck, not having enough hours or not including overtime; there were also promises of raises and incentives that were never carried out. My number one con: this company doesn't like good guards; if you know what you're doing, they act like they appreciate that but will quickly turn and decide they want you out. If you don't leave on your own, they will eventually do it for you. The client can never figure out why the good guards suddenly disappear and bad guards stick around; the company will tell the client a good guard "quit", but really they got rid of them.

Pros

Primary Response has hundreds of sites and they always have shifts available. It is a good company if this is your first job within the private security industry - you need to start somewhere, right? It is also good for students who only want to work part-time or as floaters. They offer training in Use of Force and many other useful courses free of charge, albeit I have not signed up for any of them yet. Take advantage of these.

Cons

The cons outweigh the pros. The company is very disorganized when it comes to training - they will send you to a site without informing anyone that you are going to be there for training. At my first site I had to train myself as the mobile guard who I relieved didn't even know anything about the site himself. Even though the front desk duties as a concierge are basic enough, it can be stressful if it is your first time and it is busy. They pay guards minimum wage and do not offer wage increases. I changed my availability to casual when I started school and instead of giving me shifts on my days off from school, they would call me while I was in school and in class and ask if I could work that very evening, even though my class ends at 6:30! How ridiculous is that? They would ask me to work 1900 - 2400 hours, which isn't even worth it at all. They also treat good guards like crap. They will tell you how good of a guard you are but not give you full-time hours or a full-time site. They will try taking advantage of you.

Pros

Met some guards I had worked for with a real Security company who were good guards. One Supervisor was decent of the 4 I had to deal with.

Cons

Company doesn't trust staff to do security functions, needs Supervisors on ego trips to check up and babysit. Doesn't support guards. Pay is crap, and the functions are ridiculous. Most guards under qualified and they wil hire anyone as a pulse. The recruiter wouldn't even look you in the eyes as he spoke to you. Find another company

Pros

They train you, this is about it!

Cons

Worst internal employee service by far! If you need anything from them, be ready to get uncomfortable and go to the office, because no one will answer your email or phone inquiries. HR will make up lies up to remove you from a site, if you complain that better work equipment should be given as per employee rights and per Ministry of Labor Ontario. You will be promised a certain amount of pay, but will end up underpaid.

Pros

Same with probably every other security company, a lot of work. Also, getting into a full-time spot somewhere so that you limit your interaction with management.

Cons

Unless things have changed dramatically, I recall countless occasions where there would always be pay-discrepancies. In fact, it was so often that you couldn't help but suspect that they did it on purpose. The sad thing is that they hired a lot of elderly people, some who could barely walk, who do not appear keen enough to pay attention to stuff like this and I remember feeling so bad for them.

Pros

I heard good things and applied because I would like to advance in security or maybe become a police officer.

Cons

It's security so I know I will start low, but if opportunity is out there this is my best place. I didn't get the job site I would like because I lack experience and training.

Pros

The company makes you feel as you are part of their family! High Positive energy, kindness and understanding throughout the company. I love working with my new friends! Primary Response treats you as a person! It's really amazing!

Cons

Endless smiles, tons of support from your management!