Is Security a Fearful Subject? How to Talk With Employees

Securing your business is vital in this modern world. But you also want to foster a positive experience for your employees, customers, and vendors. Have you found it difficult to discuss security concerns with your employees without making everyone uncomfortable, anxious, or even afraid? If so, try these ideas to make this subject less stressful for all.

1. Introduce Security Early

Some companies wait until a significant event before they address security. And certainly, after an attack or incident of violence — either on your business or in the area — is a good time to reassess your security practices, but it's also a fearful time to introduce the subject. Instead of waiting for a traumatic event, make proactive security a normal part of your company culture from the beginning of each employee's experience.

Upon starting work with your company, employees should see good security practices as part of their daily activities, conversations, and meetings. These should be best practices for cyber security, proper access control devices, employee awareness, and managers who take safety seriously even when it's inconvenient or doesn't add to profit.

2. Empower Employees

People will feel more afraid if they feel powerless. Locking everyone behind barred windows and having locks on every interior door may only serve to make workers feel like they do have something to be afraid of.

Instead, talk to employees about how they feel about new security measures. If someone works in an isolated part of the property, would they feel safer with a monitored security camera or a patrolling security officer? Why? And what suggestions do they have as to what would make them feel safer? How many interior locks do they feel are necessary? And where?

In addition to getting feedback, establish an open door policy for security or safety concerns on an ongoing basis. And focus on ways employees can practice positive safety habits that protect themselves such as using the buddy system to walk out at night or choosing good passwords.

3. Take Invisible Steps

Not all security measures must be discussed in vivid detail with your staff. If you have noticed unsavory characters lurking around the property at night, you can take steps to protect the business without involving most employees. You might update older fences and locks or hire a security patrol to monitor the building at night — none of which is likely to impact most workers during the day.

Similarly your business should take less visible — and even invisible — precautionary steps like increasing cyber security and the physical security of your servers, training mangers to be proactive and aware, and securing outside equipment so that it's not a temptation for thieves. In many cases, these subjects need only be brought up to those who are involved.

4. Have Positive Conversations

Do you need to discuss some security concern with one or more employees? The way you as an owner or manager address this sensitive subject will set the tone for how employees feel about it.

Prepare yourself in advance for meeting with anyone by formulating a plan to handle the conversation and keep it productive. Keep things focused on positive outcomes without going into unnecessary detail about the security issue. Come armed with a workable plan to minimize the security threat.

If a disgruntled employee has threatened harm, for example, work with a security service to assess your security weaknesses and resolve them. Then, once you've already set that plan in motion, discuss it calmly with employees. Point to specific actions that are being taken to protect everyone.

Do you want help to create a better security culture, take noninvasive security steps, or talk about safety issues? Call the security pros at Phoenix Access Control today. We can help you design a comfortable environment that values protection without scaremongering.