Russell Security

I worked for this company for a few years at a couple of different sites.  There were a lot of continental shifts, 12-hour shifts, nights and weekends. I started as casual P/T, then was moved to a full time position at another site within a few weeks when an opening came up. I got promoted to lead hand after a year. It was much easier when I was on a permanent rotation and could plan my schedule. Had to travel to the office at Sheppard/Weston for orientation and training. There were lots of courses offered at no charge, but you only get paid to take them if you need them for your site. They did have site training courses sometimes, where the instructor comes to the site, you always get paid for those ones. I had a pretty good team, supervisor and CSM, had one time where I had a problem with my pay, but when I called the office they apologiezed and gave me an EMT to fix it by payday. Pay rates could be higher, but they were a bit higher than at nearby sites so I can't complain much. They gave me a good letter of reference when I left to move to BC. OK company, all in all.

Great company to work for! I worked with Russell for over a year and never had a problem. Great pay rate compared to other companies, yes they are 12 hour shifts but this is expected in shift work and you are informed of this prior to starting. Good benefits after completing the probationary 3 month period. Reading some of these comments if you were not performing your job properly you were given many warnings before being removed from a site. Management are very helpful and professional, always willing to accommodate you. Overall best security company I have worked for, I gained very valuable experience I moved on for a career in Corrections and Russell was very helpful in helping me through the process and providing references.

I was employed in the Ajax Warehouse location. The experience was not worth the time. They constantly call you for shifts because guards are ALWAYS quitting and they are not organized. I've heard a new "supervisor" took over but it's the same old drama. They do not ask for employee input, always trying to be better for the client but never sticking up for the guards. They say you won't be forgotten but you will be, guaranteed. There is no job advancement, there is no work life, there is no benefit, there is no job culture. Also management (except for the old supervisor) is brainless, do not really care for you.

I was at the Ajax warehouse location. Overall horrible experience, no chance of "moving up", constantly training people and still making the same as person training. They do not do nothing for you except call you more if you agree to cover shifts. Stuck doing 12hr shifts, and constant criticism because the "client" wants better. People in the warehouse making $30+ for doing the same job security guards have to do. No sense of work culture,  coworkers were nice because you were stuck with them for 12 hours. Guards was "incharge" of laundry and was NOT provided any gloves. Bad experience would not recommend to anyone looking for long term job.

I have worked with Russell Security for 3 years now and I would rate it, overall, as a positive experience. Communication with management is good as long as you communicate with them. Shifts are long but well setup and lots of opportunity for overtime. The expectations are high but if you have a willingness to to work through the problem and ask for help when you need it then the support is great. You definitely need to be serious about your job and and want to succeed.
Most definitely the stressful part is working with other guards who have no interest in in doing the job correctly.

I lived in Oshawa and relied on public transit. They told me they would put me at a location close to home but got stationed at a warehouse in Ajax which was a 2 hour bus ride. All shifts are basically 8-12 hours and I got called in a lot to cover people so ended up working a lot of 3-5 hour shifts too. Scheduling is terrible as it is CONSTANTLY changing, its easy to mix up shifts or "miss a shift" because you didn't know you had to work it. The people you work with are all very nice, the job itself sucks and the people who come to the warehouse aren't that nice.

I enjoyed working at Russell Security. I worked in Ajax at a warehouse and gained valuable experience. I was even offered work in Downtown Toronto for other sites as our CSM and HR always kept me in the loop of new openings to advance myself. The whole management staff treated me very well and i gained a lot of new friends while working.  They really try their best to fit you into a role you are looking for. I'm not sure of other reviews here i did not have this experience

A lot of the reviews here are spot on. Do your research before working with the company. 

You will not be respected, as a migrant you will be taken advantage of and your job will be used against you if you cannot come in for shifts if your school is in the way.

No matter what, If you make a mistake or as far as your knew, were following your post orders. you will be thrown under the bus in order to save face with the client.

They do not think highly of their guards, you are disposable to them.

Hours are as expected due to shift work. Management is difficult to communicate with as different people manage different job sites. Communication between higher ups is lacking (I worked for 17 hours because of this). Many of the shifts are dull and boring with very little extra tasks to complete outside of camera monitoring and patrols.

Despite their claims of having a comprehensive feedback system and management that is reachable this is simply not the case. If the employee is not performing a duty adequately they will not attempt to improve your performance or bring the issue to your attention. They simply remove you from site without warning regardless of probation period limits.

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