Static, mobile or on the door
Security covers a wide range of work. A concierge in an office lobby, a guard patrolling a building site at night and a door supervisor outside a busy bar face different risks. Door staff deal with confrontation and the chance of assault. Patrol officers walk miles in the dark and climb stairs in empty buildings.
Insurers will ask which of these you do. Be specific, because a job title such as security officer can hide very different days.
Some guards move cash or valuables between sites, and insurers treat that as its own category. Others work at events or in shopping centres, dealing with crowds and shoplifters. Tell the insurer the main type of work you do and anything you do now and then.
Twelve-hour nights and your health
Long night shifts are normal in security. Over the years they can disturb sleep, affect weight and blood pressure, and leave little time for family. Insurers do not refuse cover because you work nights, but they will ask about your health, so tell them about any conditions you have.
Stress and anxiety after an incident can keep a guard off work as surely as a physical injury. Income protection can cover mental health claims too, subject to the policy terms.
Long hours sitting in a gatehouse matter too. Many guards find it hard to stay active on nights, and weight gain or raised blood pressure can follow. Insurers assess your health when you apply, so looking after it before you buy can help the price.
Contract sick pay in security
Most security firms win contracts on tight margins, and sick pay often reflects that. Statutory sick pay is common, sometimes with no company scheme at all. Self-employed door staff, paid per shift, get nothing.
A short deferred period suits many guards for that reason. If you have a few months of savings, a longer wait can reduce what you pay each month.
Some guards top up their hours with event work or a second job in a different trade. Tell the insurer about every job, because the riskiest one can affect your terms.
- Check your contract for a company sick pay scheme
- If you work for several firms, count all your earnings
- Self-employed door supervisors should plan for no sick pay
Your licence and a claim
Your SIA licence lets you work. If an illness or injury stops you doing the job, an income protection claim depends on the policy's incapacity test, not on whether your licence remains valid. The definition varies by insurer and by how they rate your role, so compare the wording, not just the price.
If your licence lapses for reasons unrelated to health, such as a missed renewal, that is not an insurance matter. Keep track of renewal dates so a paperwork gap does not stop your pay.
Hi Tomorrow and security workers
We find out how you split your hours, what kind of sites you cover and what your employer pays when you are off. Then we compare insurers on our panel and help you set up life cover for your family alongside it. We are here if you ever need to claim.