When something seems too good to be true... · 10:21pm Jun 6th, 2015
It usually is.
In my case it was my move from event security to working security for a company doing security for major motion pictures.
In some ways it's not that big a deal, I still have my old job (although scheduling is pissed at me because I've refused work during a VERY busy period.)
In others it's going to really hurt me. Emotionally and mentally.
Working movie sets is the first time in perhaps 5 years where I've all around the board been happy with my job. I was getting $13/hr. which for security in this province is a lot of money (average is about $11.50 with $11/hr. being minimum wage)
But knowing that movies pay everyone a buttload of cash this didn't raise any red flags with me.
Travel time for a local shift, again AWESOME! But didn't raise any red flags because everyone on set gets that. Plus I'm not sure the company knew I was local unless they checked my file.
All of this is nice and all but it's not why this has hurt me on such a personal level.
I felt respected.
To be fair most of my job involves staying out of their way, moving pylons and keeping people from trespassing. But every person I encountered was nothing but nice, polite or indifferent (the big name actor isn't very social)
There was no disrespect, no one tried telling me I was a waste of space, I was given and encouraged to take breaks and offered food and luxuries. Hell I was even told (not offered) to get in the car to take a 20 minute drive to the (free) food truck for set staff.
I got told to get in the trucks if I got cold, bored or wanted a nap and nobody would have cared if I had.
They didn't look over my shoulder to make sure I was doing my job, they just left me alone and assumed I was doing it.
All of this ruined by a company that is so far under the table it's head won't bump anything when it gets busted with the proverbial cock in its mouth.
They have a buisness licence, but no security provider licence. If I'm caught on set in security uniform or identifying myself as security that is $5,000 fine to me, actually a co-worker just informed me it was recently increased to 10k and up to 5 years in jail.
For working for a company not possessing a valid security licence. Some of the other stuff will get me fined too, but as an employee only the security violation runs the risk of jail time.
We will see on Friday if I'm actually going to be paid or if the company is going to go full gypsy.
But the loss of being treated like a human being? Going back to being treated like a commod(e)(ity) by what is still one of the better security companies in the province?
I don't know if I want to live in this industry anymore.
Which is a shame because I've always loved my chosen career.
Oh and for those with the patience to read all of that, I just threw a rough plan together for Jumper. I'm not going to let all the story lines get jumbled up like they are right now, that will increase my chapter post frequency.
Maybe go from security to a police position? At least here in the states, the police make quite a bit of money, retire after 20 years, and have insane benefit packages.
3128270 No. A bunch of reasons, but no.
I don't want to do policing and neither would people for where ever I was working. I'm the kind of guy that believes the law applies to everyone and must not be bent. You got 52 over the speed limit I wouldn't knock it down to 49 and save your car from being towed or the massive fine/demerits. You'd get that ticket, it's the law as a cop I'm there to enforce it, not bend it.
I'm not sure what to tell you. The RCMP might have open positions and I'm told that the CAF MP are always looking for recruits.
3128449 Meh, security is 99% customer service. I might just go into retail or something, maybe get a job at a movie theatre.
3128479 If that's what you want to do... I guess.
3128493 I've been needing a change of pace for a while, I still like dealing with people I just need to do something different.