Environmental factors and job satisfaction: The case of private security guards

An important attribute of high turnover in private security guard industry relates to factors associated with job satisfaction. While sweeping statements have been attributed as reasons for high turnover in the security guard industry (including poor pay, inadequate regulations and poor training), few studies have examined the factors associated with job satisfaction among unarmed guards. This study seeks to examine the relative effects of environmental factors on job satisfaction as well as dissatisfaction among security guards. Data were drawn from in-depth interviews with 18 security guards employed in a highly industrialized Midwestern state in the United States to explore factors that influence their satisfaction and dissatisfaction at work. Findings suggest that overall the guards expressed satisfaction with their jobs because of the thrill and anticipation they received from the job assignment. However, inadequate training, poor pay, shift-work schedules, boredom and a lack of basic amenities at work were among the factors identified that left them with low-job satisfaction. In addition, respondents identified factors that help remedy the situation to create a productive working environment for employees in a high turnover, underpaid occupation.