Security services specialist, Magenta Security Services, has launched a programme to provide mental health and 'general wellbeing' support to staff.
It says that ‘as a long-standing champion of ethical behaviour, human rights, and social responsibility’, it ‘takes mental health seriously’. Partnering with a leading care and metal health consultancy, and an employee assistance solutions provider, it is offering its staff services including one-to-one counselling sessions and practical advice sessions on a range of matters -- from debt and finance to relationships and general anxiety.
MD, Abbey Petkar, feels mental health awareness and support are vital, particularly in the security sector. He said: “I cannot express how strongly I feel that managers and directors within the security sector have responsibility for the lives of our dedicated workforce of professional guards and other team members. The ethnic diversity of our workforce comes with its own challenges when providing mental health support. Speaking from experience among our team, BAME men — who make up a large proportion of our workforce – are both less likely to open up about their mental health issues due to cultural stigma, and more likely to encounter barriers when trying to access support. That’s why we’ve launched an internal support programme.
“For the BAME men of Magenta Security,” Abbey Petkar added, “ and anyone else reluctant to seek help, we also encourage them to speak to their most direct colleagues, with whom they often feel more comfortable. What we never want is for anyone to feel isolated, so we regularly reassure staff that we will always respond with kindness and understanding if they come forward about their mental health challenges.”
In 2020, Magenta made clear its stance on fair pay after ‘speaking out about the prevalence of modern-day slavery in the security sector’. Abbey Petkar explained that Magenta lost tenders against low-cost security providers that charge workers out at less than £10 an hour – which he believes is commercially unsustainable. Magenta thus uses the London living wage as a baseline, with additional rewards for long-term or exceptional employees, and offers ‘career-progressing’ training programmes. As a result, the business has seen a staff turnover of just 11% (the industry average is 30%).
The company also strives to promote a healthy work-life balance. “The security industry is notorious for long shifts and low pay, compounding mental health issues by depriving security officers of the free time they need to recoup and connect with loved ones,” explained abbey Petkar. “We make sure we work closely with individual security officers to fit their shifts around their personal commitments. We also keep commuting times down by ensuring staff sites are close to home.”
Magenta Security is involved in Security Minds Matter – a campaign to improve the mental health and wellbeing of security professionals, especially those on the frontline. The campaign is supported by the Security Industry Association,, and will engage with industry stakeholders and mental health professionals ‘to deliver projects with tangible outcome’.