Magenta Security unveils staff mental health and wellbeing support programme

The security firm has launched a programme to provide mental health and general wellbeing support to staff.

Partnering with a leading care and metal heath consultancy, an employee assistance solutions provider, Magenta Security Services is offering an array of free services to staff members. These include one-to-one counselling sessions and practical advice sessions on a range of matters from debt and finance to relationships and general anxiety.

With mental health issues originally exacerbated by the pandemic and now by the current cost of living crisis, mental health provisions for staff is vital. But, as Abbey Petkar, Magenta’s Managing Director explains, mental health awareness and support is vital particularly in the security sector: “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 amongst 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, as well as being more likely to encounter barriers when trying to access support. This is why we’ve launched an internal support programme.”

This isn’t the first time Magenta has demonstrated its commitment to staff wellbeing. In 2020, Magenta made clear its stance on fair pay after speaking out about the prevalence of modern-day slavery in the security sector. 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. As such, Magenta 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 of these policies, the business has seen a staff turnover of just 11 per cent (the industry average being 30 per cent).

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,” explains 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 SIA and will engage with industry stakeholders and mental health professionals to deliver projects with tangible outcomes.

Petkar also uses his position on the advisory board of IFPO to advocate for greater support and awareness for mental health and wellbeing in the security industry. He said: “We owe it to the people who give their time and energy to look after others to look after them as well. If we don’t, the industry will never attract and retain the talent it needs.”