Blog

World leaders gathered at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, in early 2014 predicted that civil unrest and violent protests would be the greatest risk to businesses and communities in the year ahead. True to their prediction, events in Ferguson, New York City, Hong Kong, Baltimore and cities around the world captured recent headlines and continue to demonstrate the increased power of groups, crowds and mobs now enabled by social media and real-time communications. 
 

For building owners and managers, readiness is essential. While there are a range of situations to prepare for, terrorism and civil unrest are often top of mind. However, creating plans to address the unpredictable may seem like a daunting task. BOMA International’s longstanding partnerships and insightful resources can guide you in starting or enhancing your preparedness plans.

The safety and security cultures that we all work so hard to instill in our workplaces are critical. That dedication, and those carefully planned strategies, should not end when the work day does. Are you also planning for safety and security at home? Are your employees? 
 

The adage that security officers are on patrol to “detect, deter, observe and report” is enriched today with a new world order of security officers who also welcome as they protect. Balancing security with customer care creates a secure and inviting environment that is desirable in many settings.
 

Today the movie Paul Blart: Mall Cop 2 debuts in theaters nationwide. It may be a movie that’s intended to make you laugh, but in reality security is a serious business for the thousands of security professionals assigned to malls and shopping centers across the country. As the challenges of today’s society continually evolve, so does the need for a security officer who not only protects the public from obvious dangers, but can also proactively monitor and detect suspicious behavior that could become a serious threat.

While audiences await the premiere of Paul Blart: Mall Cop 2 starring Kevin James, the reality is that today’s security officer is a vital part of our homeland security and safety. As a representative of America’s leading physical security officer services company, I challenge Kevin James to work alongside genuine retail security officers for just one day. He will experience first-hand that his character, Paul Blart, is truly a comic strip figure who bears no similarity to the real world of mall security officers. 
 

Violent situations occur in the workplace every day. To best avoid escalating the potential for violence among hostile people, it’s helpful to understand the hostile/violent mind. Individuals who lash out often have low self-esteem that is covered up by acting superior to others. This can be accomplished by manipulating others, making threats, hostility, bullying, joining gangs,possession or use of weapons, etc.  
 

In 2011, our company commissioned a national workplace violence survey of Americans who work outside of the home. From the results, we were surprised to learn that according to employees, more than half of CEOs and Presidents are not concerned with workplace violence within their organization. This is interesting, especially since other survey results showed that 34 percent of American workers go to work each day worried about workplace violence.

Perception is reality. In the security industry, we must carefully gauge and nurture the perception of those around us to help ensure that we are meeting expectations, gaining support for enhancements and creating environments that feel as safe as they are. When stakeholders, be it employees, tenants, students, staff, patients, or shoppers, are engaged, their perception of security improves drastically.


 

Many companies, including major corporations, have a number of physical security programs but no specific executive protection strategy or program. In this blog, we address three questions that corporations need to ask when considering whether to set up an EP program.