Hands up, who actually enjoys working on the weekends? Yep, us neither. But any way you look at it, weekend working has long been part of the life of anyone working within the security sector.
Weekends for someone working within the security sector however is not just another ordinary working day – it is the busiest and most demanding day.
Fromm Door Supervisors on the doors on a packed and lively Saturday night surrounded by highly intoxicated nincompoops, to a retail security guard trying to navigate the hectic isles of a supermarket full of frenzied weekend shoppers on a Sunday.Weekend working in the Security Industry is a testing time.
But from CCTV Operators to a Close Protection Operative, whatever the specialty or role, the commitment to weekend working can have an impact on your personal life.
But it doesn’t have to be all doom and gloom, in fact, working the weekend can actually have some surprising benefits. So, with all the 9 – 5 of a Dolly Parton tribute drag act, have a browse of our Weekend Security Survivor Guide and see why working this Saturday doesn’t necessarily mean the apocalypse is coming.
1 – Looking on the bright side
OK, so having to work on the weekend absolutely SUCKS! Having to work at the weekend means those that work in the security sector may find it hard to maintain a work-life balance. They can also miss out on opportunities to pursue other interests. Weekend working can also have an impact on family life, which can be particularly challenging during family events, anniversary’s and seasonal events such as Christmas.
Also, your dating life can drastically suffer as a result too. I mean, nobody really does Tinder dates on a Monday after work do they? Then again, if you have ‘Security Guard’ on your Tinder bio it’s actually been proven that your swipe right radius will increase by like 95%, so maybe it’s not all bad after all.
However, in the likely event that you are working the Saturday shift then there are ways to overcome such a strain on your personal life (and potential love life) and that is simply to arrange some much-needed quality time with your family and friends during the week. Being free on weekdays can offer a great opportunity to spend some time with your kids if you have any and can generally be a good way to catch up with friends who like yourself have to work on the weekends.
Also, if that anonymous Tinder date really is as understanding as they say they are then they will just have to settle for a weekday date at Wetherspoons or a ‘Netflix and chill’ casual kind of evening in after work.
Oh, the joys of dating within the security sector.
2 – Weekdays can be fun too
But not having social weekends doesn’t necessarily mean your world will come to a dramatic end, in fact it can actually be far easier to plan activities such as dining out or going out for drinks with mates as there is normally far less people out on a weekend. This means you can have all the fun of a weekend without the stress and congestion of people and crowds.
Because nobody actually enjoys awkwardly bumping into humans on the street now do they.
So, enjoy yourself on the days off you have during the week and value the benefit of everyone else being at work. Visit attractions or go to shopping centres like Westfield that would usually be crowded and chock-a-block over the weekend. Take advantage of cheap midweek restaurant deals and go to weekday club nights that cost less than you’d pay on a Friday or Saturday night. And even if they do have to work the next day, you can always head home early anyway.
3 – Be responsible
Which brings us on to our last little piece of guidance, and that is to take it easy the nights before you’re due to start that weekend shift. One of the key skills of anyone working within the security sector is the ability to always being aware of their surroundings at all times. So, partying until the early hours on a Friday or Saturday night when you have to be watching over the CCTV camera the next day is not exactly the piece of advice that we can recommended.
So, when you are working that security booth or asking 35-year olds for ID this Saturday, just remember, at least you get a lie in on Monday morning while the rest of humanity will be squashed like Sardines on the Northern Line.
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