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I work at a library, which you would think would be a nice, calm, quiet place to work...but it is not. Because of issues that we had with vandalism and customers with bad attitudes, we decided to hire security guards to work during our busiest hours. Now most of our security guards are wonderful, but occassionally we have one that just isn't a good fit. So here is what happened.

This new guard that we have had for a few weeks (he work three days a week, usually) has gotten in the bad habit of talking on his cell phone alot and going in our backroom to get on the internet, then staying back there for an hour or more. The post orders that they have clearly state that they are not to use their cell phones while on the job, unless they are on a break, and that they are prohibited from using the staff computers.

This Thursday he came in and our assistant manager noticed that he had been talking on his cell phone for a long time. She talked to him and reminded him that he is not to be on his cell phone. Well, as soon as she went back into her office, he was back on his phone. At this point, it was almost time for her to leave for the day, so she asked me to keep an eye on him and make sure that he does his job. About 10 minutes after she left, he went into the backroom and got on the computer. An hour later, a guy shows up with chinese food....apparently our security guard ordered chinese food during this hour break that he had been taking. So while he was eating his food, I logged off all of the backroom computers, so a staff password was needed to get back on. I then went into the breakroom and told the security guard that he needed to go on rounds when he finished eating. He came out, realized that he could not get back on the comptures and started complaining to the library staff, all of which came to me to complain that he was bothering them to get the password and wouldn't leave them alone.

He worked again on Saturday and we had similar problems. We thought that he would be there on Friday, so our manager could talk to him, but since he didn't work on Friday, I was the one that had to talk to him on Saturday (yay for being the person in charge). My manager asked for me to give the security guard a copy of the post orders so he could be reminded of what he was and was not suppose to do. I asked the other librarian to do this, because he doesn't mind and that way I wouldn't be the only one dealing with this guard. The guard read the post orders and grumbled to himself. About an hour later, he was sitting between two of the short bookshelves (where he couldn't be seen) and was texting on his cell phone. I told him that I would prefer that he sit somewhere visible, like the table next to the reference desk or near the public computers....in fact, his orders say that isn't suppose to be sitting in the first place, but should be walking around the whole time. Then he totally went off on me and started yelling that he was tired of this bull shit and that I needed to quit picking on him. I told him that I was not picking on him, but just asking him to be more visible (and to do his job). He said that he was just going to leave because he didn't need to put up with this. So I called our manager and he talked to the guard for about an hour. After this, the guard did his rounds but continued to gripe about me to the other library employees (who were all annoyed by him and kept telling me when he bothered them).

Then as we were all leaving, he told one of the guys that I work with that I needed to look out because I was barking up the wrong tree. This guy is one of my good friends and immediately called me to tell me what he said. I turned around and called our manager and he said that he'd call the head of security on Monday. Although in the past, it has not been easy to get rid of a security guard, it usually takes a week or two to find someone new. I'm not sure if he was actually threatening me or just blowing off steam, but it makes me very uncomfortable. I am tempted to tell my mananger that if he shows up again when I am working, that I will leave for the rest of the day because I am not comfortable being around me. Some of my co-workers think that I'm over-reacting. What do you guys think? Am I over-reacting, or am I justified in feeling threatened by this guy?

I think you are justified. At the very least make sure there's a male coworker (a big one if possible) nearby because you never know what someone like this will do.

You are not blowing things out of proportion. In these times, people are desperate for any type of income (although, one would think they would actually *WORK* for it!). You might even want to file a report with the local law enforcement, and request they swing by your home on overnight shifts. This puts things on record right away and hopefully won't be needed.

My suggestion would be to plant a bug in your manager's ear to hire off-duty police officers or deputies to do the job of patrolling. The library in Hattiesburg, MS does this and they have someone there 5 days a week to wrangle the kids after school.

Is there any way you can find out what he was doing on the computer? Can you view the history on the computer he was using? If you found out he was looking at porn or using it for personal e-mails, that should be enough to get him canned right away.

Dog Holliday Wrote:Is there any way you can find out what he was doing on the computer? Can you view the history on the computer he was using? If you found out he was looking at porn or using it for personal e-mails, that should be enough to get him canned right away.

He was on Myspace and checking email. I'm not sure if anyone can go back and check the history, but my manager would take my word on it. I know that they plan on firing him, but the procedure takes a while. The last time we had to "replace" a security guard, it took almost two weeks. During that time, the old guard remained at the library and continued to work. The last thing I want is to be at work with a security guard that knows that he is getting canned and blames me for it.

ozarkmoon Wrote:You are not blowing things out of proportion. In these times, people are desperate for any type of income (although, one would think they would actually *WORK* for it!). You might even want to file a report with the local law enforcement, and request they swing by your home on overnight shifts. This puts things on record right away and hopefully won't be needed.

My suggestion would be to plant a bug in your manager's ear to hire off-duty police officers or deputies to do the job of patrolling. The library in Hattiesburg, MS does this and they have someone there 5 days a week to wrangle the kids after school.

I thought about going to the local police department, especially because they are across the parking lot from the library and we have a good relationship with them. My friends think that I should wait and see what the library does first.

I doubt that we'd be able to hire off-dutie police officers. We don't have the money in our budget to afford them, that is why we have contract security officers. Since we are funded by tax money we have to hire based on which company offers us the lowest bid, don't you love buearocracy?

I guess I will wait and see what happens tomorrow at work.

kristin9924 Wrote:I thought about going to the local police department, especially because they are across the parking lot from the library and we have a good relationship with them. My friends think that I should wait and see what the library does first.

I doubt that we'd be able to hire off-dutie police officers. We don't have the money in our budget to afford them, that is why we have contract security officers. Since we are funded by tax money we have to hire based on which company offers us the lowest bid, don't you love buearocracy?

I guess I will wait and see what happens tomorrow at work.

If they are right across the street and you're on good terms with them, then I say take advantage of that. Seriously. A box of doughnuts and some cappacinos can't hurt in a situation like this.

Whoa, I'm sorry to hear about this jerk! It makes me so mad -- people who don't work, then blame YOU for pointing that out to them. What do think? -- the universe owes them a free ride?

And I'm sure being a security guard is very boring, and I'm positive he thinks he's "keeping an eye on things just fine" while on the computer or phone. Nonetheless, if it's against policy, it's against policy, and he needs to man up and obey the rules.

Yikes! What a scary situation! I are right to be concerned. Who knows what this guy will do? It could be all talk on his part, but you never know. Make sure word gets back to him that your BOSS ordered you to keep an eye on him, so he doesn't think you instigated the confrontation.

I would think he'd be grateful to have a job during these economic times. I'm sure there are plenty of motivated people who'd be happy to take his place.

Here's hoping that you are able to get rid of him quickly.

I would suggest you look into getting a restraining order if he threatens you.

Dude sounds like a sociopath, the "I don't give a shit because rules don't apply to me" kind of sociopath. And they get all infuriated when someone reminds them what they're supposed to be doing isn't what they're doing. There's a sense of entitlement, "I can do what the hell I want to do and everyone else can fuck off." That kind of person does not need to be a security guard because security guards are hired to enforce rules.

I've worked with a few jerks like that, including a busboy at a restaurant who refused to do what he was hired to do. He was a loose cannon, and when the manager told him to shape up, he was furious ("How dare they!"). Then one day he blew up and started screaming at everyone so he got fired. Then he tried to burn down the restaurant ("That'll show 'em!). Luckily, he failed miserably at the attempt, just like he failed at being a busboy. I'm guessing this guy is in jail now, societal rules just don't apply.

This security guard reminds me of the busboy--entitled, refusing to follow rules, and making statements that might suggest he could be violent if someone tries to tell him what to do. I'd be very cautious in this situation, I don't think you're overreacting.

Well the head of security came in today. She talked to the manager, assistant manager and me. I told her everything that happened and she agreed that this guy has no business being at our library and apologized to me for having to deal with him. She said that I had done everything that I was suppose to do and she felt that he probably had a problem with me because I am a woman...he appeared to also have a problem with our assistant mananger (who is also a woman), but did not have a problem with our manager or other librarian (both of whom are males).

She promised that we would have someone else in to work his shift this afternoon and told us that he should not be coming back to the library or calling us for any reason. And if he shows up that we should call the police if we feel threatened. I feel a little better. Hopefully this will be the end of it.

This guy is a total jerk. I'm glad to hear your colleagues are sticking up for you. It helps to have back-up like this - you can appreciate that at your job - so many workplaces are not like that...

You did the right thing - you certainly didn't overreact. It's not too much to expect someone to do their job. Good luck to him finding a new one, with the economy and all.