Security for Staff After Daylight Saving Ends Andy Zavoina
The end of Daylight Saving Time recently caused us to "fall back" an hour. Security officers should be considering what the time shift means to bank staff besides getting an extra hour's sleep on a Sunday morning. It gets dark an hour earlier and as winter approaches, darkness will arrive earlier still. Compound that with the hustle and bustle of the holiday season, more work, more shopping, more activities, and employees can become more susceptible to risk. What should Security Officers be doing to mitigate these risks?
Ensure that employee parking areas and paths to them from your branches are well lit.
Have security guards periodically roam your parking areas to inspect cars and anyone who may be near.
Remind employees to report suspicious activity in and around their branch.
Encourage employees to walk to their cars with their keys in hand, ready to enter and re-lock their cars quickly.
If the car has a keyless entry system, unlock only the driver's door to prevent someone from entering and surprising you.
Remind employees to look under their car and in the passenger areas before approaching and getting in. Intruders can be hiding.
Employees should ensure their cars have working dome lights so they can see inside.
If snow or ice on the windshield is a problem, have someone watching the employees and assisting them clear the windows if necessary so that one person isn't unnecessarily exposed to danger.
If employee vehicles are identified with a bank decal, be cautious of vehicles without them in your area. If your vehicle has dark tinted windows or is a van, find a buddy before approaching it.
Remind employees to store packages, including briefcases, laptop bags and bank materials (especially cell phones) out of sight and in the trunk whenever possible.
Encourage employees to go to their cars in pairs or with a guard. There is strength in the buddy system.
This is also a good opportunity to remind employees to take a different route to work and home. Sometimes, variety is the spice of life, and it makes the employees less predictable.
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