Supply And Demand: What Is Pushing Security Workers Out Of The Nightlife Industry?

Shahzad Ali, CEO of Get Licensed wonders What is pushing security workers out of the nightlife industry?

The UK is infamous for its buzzing nightlife and social culture. So, it’s no surprise many employers were left devastated by the COVID-19 pandemic.

After shutting their doors for the final time in March 2020, almost 10,000 UK nightlife establishments have not survived the last year.

And while those still standing prepared to finally return to normal ahead of June 21st, the rise of the Delta Variant has set them back once again until at least July 19th.

So it comes as no surprise that 85 percent of the industry’s staff are considering leaving following a tough year of furlough payment. On top of this, the already suffering nightlife sector is set to experience a severe shortage of security guards, vital for the nightlife industry.

It is important to consider why this may be. In this article, Shahzad Ali, CEO of Get Licensed examines the poor treatment of workers within this sector of security, exploring why this may cause a lack of staff supply and jeopardise the return of this industry as we know it.

The duty of security workers

Security workers are fundamental to the operation of UK nightlife. Their job as trained, SIA-approved ‘Door Supervisors’ is to create a secure, safe environment for the public, whether this be in or out of the establishment they are employed to.

Clubs and bars have been known to be dangerous places, as drinking culture and potentially violent behaviour often goes hand in hand with these establishments. The UK has a reputation for its alcohol culture, so security workers are necessary for clubs and bars to stay open.

Alcohol can change a person’s behaviour, affecting each individual differently. In some of the worst cases, individuals completely lose their inhibitions and become aggressive when under the influence, hence the need for guards to supervise alcohol-reliant establishments.

Although security workers are employed to ensure the safety of customers, they can become targets for drunken abuse from attendees of the establishments they are employed to protect. Whether this be as they decline entrance on the door or when they are managing unruly situations within their place of employment, Door Supervisors are subjected to an array of both verbal and physical assault.

Not only do bouncers guard their establishment, but they also oversee the streets around them. As these establishments often operate in the dead of night, this is the optimum time for criminal activity – particularly violent crimes like assault. Security workers monitor their surroundings to try and protect innocent bystanders from being subjected to these fearful crimes.

It’s easy to see why nightlife will inevitably suffer if this ‘supply and demand’ issue is not treated as a matter of urgency. Despite the date of normalities return being pushed back, it is looking promising that the 19th of July will go ahead, but will industries be ready if they cannot tackle this security threat?

July 19th could mean the reopening of bars, pubs, and clubs as they once were, increasing the demand for security workers drastically and rapidly. Although there is some work within this sector as it stands, the social distancing rules have decreased the likelihood of rowdy, drunk spats breaking out.

Inevitably, this will have decreased the amount of security that nightlife establishments employ and rely on, much like the reduction of waiters and bar staff on shifts. When drinking and socialising regulations are removed, punters will need further protection once again from the people around them.
The cause of the shortage

According to reports, new door supervisor SIA licence applications in the past 12 months are significantly down on previous years. At the hands of the pandemic, it is no surprise workers within the nightlife industry have had to search for other work.

Research has shown that around 51 percent of nightclub staff had been made redundant as a result of the industry closing. With many of the Door Supervisors employed by clubs and bars working on a zero-hour contract, therefore not entitled to furlough, the problem is exacerbated even further.

There is little incentive to return as is, furlough or not. Wages are low for ‘bouncers’ in this industry, and perks are generally non-existent, due to the type of contracting and many employers outsourcing their workers.

In addition to the financial strain, many security guards who have been forced into other jobs will be reluctant to return to the abusive treatment they endure in the nightlife industry. There is little protection for security staff, and with the health risks of the pandemic, change is becoming increasingly crucial.

Recently, the SIA made first aid training a ‘legal requirement’, along with other compulsory courses to qualify to be a Door Supervisor. Although encouraging extra training is fundamentally a positive, these courses are expensive. Within a low-wage industry, these additional expenses will be near impossible for some, perhaps even pushing workers out further. This is a potentially damaging response to an already depleting workforce.

Door Supervisors in the nightlife sector are essentially receiving very little rewards for the challenging work they do. The role requires them to put their lives in danger in order to ensure the safety of the public, and they are repaid poorly for this time and time again – whether that be by the industry or disrespectful members of the public.

Low wages and rewards are one issue, but this is only the start. Door Supervisors also have to navigate drunken attacks from members of the public that they are trying to protect. This sector suffers an almost unrivaled amount of abuse. In recent months, a video surfaced online of a woman racially and physically abusing a security guard unprovoked – this gained a huge public reaction, shocking many viewers. However, this is not an irregular occurrence in this line of work.

Studies have explored the psychological impact that this abuse can have on security workers with worrying findings. 40 percent of surveyed security personnel were showing symptoms of PTSD. This result may be devastating but is unsurprising when the 64 percent who are threatened with violence at least once a month are taken into consideration.

For an industry with such a threatening and intense mental impact, workers should be properly compensated and supported for the risks that they take by simply turning up to a shift.

The crucial next steps

Now life is slowly but surely returning to normal, it is the job of the establishments of employment, training forces, and regulators to ensure the return of security workers to this sector.

The work must be more incentivised to balance out the rising risks and costs of the industry. Security workers protected the public through the global pandemic but suffered immensely as a result. This was the UK industry with the most COVID related deaths overall, at 74.0 per 100,000. This alone demonstrates the danger that these people face when they go to work and the hazards that they protect us from.

So, what can be done? Well, structural changes to the industry and the way in which nightlife establishments hire and treat their security employees must be the first step. Without alterations to the industry itself, there can be no long-term improvement to the quality of life of security workers.

Firstly, eliminate zero-hour contracts where possible. This line of employment actively discourages loyalty to the industry and undervalue the work of trained professionals. If an employee feels they are not integral to the business and well respected by their peers, this can force workers into seeking other work opportunities.
A change in contracting will immediately improve morale and working conditions while ensuring the cost of training is worthwhile. Many security workers will be reluctant to pay for additional training in an industry they may not see a viable future in, due to their low income and lack of employee benefits.

In such a physically and emotionally demanding line of work, basic protection and support are seriously lacking. Mental health support and some kind of physical protection should be introduced at the very least, as we have seen the impact that the work can have on the staff.

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