After thoughtfully choosing the best security measures for the entrances to your commercial property, the last thing you want to do is unintentionally wreck them.

Much of the standard door etiquette we’re used to isn’t actually good for doors. If you’re propping your business doors open or slamming them shut, you could be doing some major damage. Here are some ways to protect the doors that are protecting your business. 

Paint the Door

No, we’re not trying to improve the door’s self-esteem. Painting your exterior doors prevents rust and uneven closure, two things that reduce the security of your business’s exterior doors.

Painting over a material that is prone to rusting, like steel, prevents the underlying metal from oxidizing. If you have painted doors, check them regularly for peeling paint or bald spots. Many times, the paint will start to wear around the edges of the door and handle first simply due to constant contact with the door frame and peoples’ hands. Make sure to paint over these uneven spots so that your doors don’t rust. 

Be Gentle 

It’s very tempting to kick a door open if you’ve got full hands, but using force on a door can do a lot of damage. Inflicting a striking force on a door, repeatedly, can damage not only the integrity of the door itself but also the mechanisms used to lock and latch the door. Although it might be easier to let your doors slam or kick them open, do your best to handle with care.

Keep Doors Dry

In addition to handling doors with care, be sure to keep your doors, interior and exterior, as dry as possible. You may not be able to protect them from the elements, but avoid power-washing and, if possible, add awnings over exterior doors to offer additional protection. Even if you’ve painted your doors you’re still susceptible to warping and rust in unpainted areas like locks and hinges.

Dog Down Doors

If you can get away with keeping your doors unlocked during business hours you’ll increase the longevity of its locking devices. Dogging down your doors means that you depress the locking device keeping the lock withdrawn and the door free swinging. Put simply, while you’re at work, this gives the moving pieces inside of the doors a break.

If you’d like to leave your doors unlocked during business hours but keep sensitive information or valuable items on site, invest in a safe for your business and keep any items you want out of reach and tucked safely away.

Adjust Doors

Pay attention to your doors. If they’re slamming shut or if the mechanisms don’t perfectly align, have a professional locksmith adjust them. Letting your doors bang against their frame multiple times a day does damage not only to the door but also the door frame and the surrounding insulation. Ignoring small things such as this could end up costing you hugely in repairs down the road.

Skip the Decal

Leave the exterior doors to your business blank. It’s tempting to post business hours or showcase your logo on your front door, but you could be doing more harm than good.

Door decals can bubble or peel which puts you at risk for water damage and rusting issues. Post pertinent business information on a separate sign and place in the window. Leave your exterior door as a blank canvas.

Call a Locksmith

Commercial security doors can be complicated. If you find that you’ve got an issue with one, don’t try to DIY. Call a locksmith you can trust that knows how to work on the various devices that make your doors secure in the first place.

Sometimes we underestimate how much TLC we should be giving the things we use daily and it can be difficult remembering to give them a once over now and again. Make sure that you’re checking your doors on a regular basis. Many of our clients set calendar reminders to check their doors monthly when they have other obligations like making a rent or mortgage payment. Catching problems before they start will ensure that you’re getting the value you deserve for your commercial security doors. 

Owning your own company or managing employees is a large undertaking, but with huge payoffs. More than likely, you’re in charge of your own schedule, make a decent living, and you get to be your own boss! While you may experience some great benefits, you are also saddled with the responsibility of keeping your business safe and secure; and not just from outsiders.  

In September of 2015, the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners determined that 75% percent of employees have stolen from their employer at least once during their time with the company! If you’re a business owner, it’s up to you to lower your risk of employee theft. Here are 7 ways to help prevent theft in your business.

1. Install a Safe

Protect your most important business documents and valuables in a fireproof business safe. Unless you have large things to secure, most businesses can get away with a smaller safe that can easily be hidden in a desk drawer, closet, or storage area that is not accessible to other employees. Not sure what to look for when purchasing a safe for your business? Check out this blog post for more information.

2. Be Present Even When You’re Not

Get an eye in the sky. You can’t be in all places at once, so why not get a little help? Employees are less likely to cause trouble if they know they’re being watched—smile, you’re on camera! The best types of systems are those which live stream so that owners and managers will be able to keep an eye on things remotely and in real time.

3. Safeguard Cyber Assets

Dishonest employees are not restricted to tangible assets. Chances are, they handle sensitive customer information. Depending on your business that could be credit card numbers or even social security numbers. Protect your customer’s information by utilizing a data encryption method, two-part authentication for sensitive information, and by using a password on your computer. Always lock your computer when you’re not at your desk to prevent unauthorized people from accessing it.

4. Use a Buddy System

If your company’s finances allow, always have more than one employee working at any given time. It’ll be much more difficult for someone to walk out with something at the end of their shift if they’re paired with another individual. Take it a step further by varying who is paired together. You don’t want partners in crime working the same shift.

5. Surprise and Planned Audits

One not so secret way to keep yourself safe from employee theft? Carry out unannounced audits randomly throughout the year. Not knowing when the audits will occur could prevent someone from stepping out of line. You should also run a yearly audit performed by a third party organization. This will help you determine if any of your preventative actions have made a difference from year to year.

6. Implement a Tip Line

The same study that found almost all employees steal (sad) also discovered that the majority of the thieves were discovered due to a tip from a fellow employee (nearly 26%). Making it easier for your honest workers to report issues is one of the first steps you should take in protecting your business. Go old school and get one of those locked “comment” boxes for anonymous tips or invest in a service to field these reports for you.

7. Change the Locks

If you have a particular employee who you’re worried about or are concerned about safety after dismissing someone, change the master key locks to your business. Locks are easy and quick to replace and will provide you with added piece of mind that former employees do not have access to your business. Make sure you use a locksmith that you can trust—read our blog post on 5 questions to ask before hiring a locksmith.

Depending on the type of business you’re in, one or even all of these methods may be your saving grace. For help preventing employee theft at your business in the Boston area, contact us today.