alarm technician

commercial sales executive

account representative

inspector

account manager

Bay Alarm Company

This company, on paper, sounds like a great place to work.  They are a family owned business in its 3rd generation.  Employee retention is through the roof, and they claim that their company culture is incredible.  On paper, it all looks great and, after a few years, the holes started showing.  Fact is, they demand greatness and promote mediocrity.  

A typical day at work for me was pushing through traffic in a company vehicle, job start at 9, with a lot of days already starting out completely overbooked.  I'd spend a lot of the time on the phone with central station trying to shuffle around my schedule to make it more manageable.  On average we were looking at 7-9 calls a day, expected to be done in an 8 hour period, not including transit time.  The hardest part of this job was simply the volume of calls during a single day and that they'd constantly send me stuff that was over my head, so I'd get caught quite often.  With overtime being mandatory for those in the field, we would have to get all the jobs done regardless of how long it took and, sometimes, that meant staying out very late.  Quite often, mid-day, more calls would be added, regardless of progress, because someone had called in and "demanded" service.  Overall, most days were supremely frustrating.  

The management was fantastic, they were always trying to get out and help or train me, meet me if possible and just run support so the issues coming from upstairs didn't reach our ears and our issues went as far as them.  If it wasn't for the management, I wouldn't have stayed at that company as long as I did.

The hardest part of the job was learning how to cope with a seriously frustrating work environment, long hours, upset customers, low pay, difficult, dirty work, and owners of a business who, as long as numbers were coming in, didn't care about the details.  I would ask for something, or to try and promote a change and it was never sent any further than the branch because change isn't something the company strives for.  

I enjoyed dealing with the customers on this job the most.  Many of them were fantastic, nice, friendly people and being able to get out, spend time in their homes and, once I had the experience, be able to get to know them as well as get the job done, was incredible.  I met a lot of incredible and interesting people.



Management is full of condescending, inhumane, narcissistic and unorganized people. The dispatch/monitoring department had an 80% turn-over rate the year of 2016. Policies/Procedures change with little or contradicting email notices. Dress code is applied according to the person. Night shift differential for those who work swing/grave shifts is falsely calculated they state that you earn $2 from 10pm-5am but on your check it looks like 50 cents an hour. Day shift has heavy phones no standby or break time on the phones in between calls. You are expected to be a compliant and happy slave everyday. The monitoring department is a plantation not a career. Management will bribe and/or scold you if you are applying to other jobs dependant upon person. You have to ask to go to the bathroom, get water or LEAVE at the end of your shift and if it is too busy and they are understaffed you will have to stay. God forbid you are sick or there is a family death/emergency it will be used against you for "attendance events" in your review and/or department ranking. Over half of the department has reported management and working conditions to HR. Outdated and frequent malfunctioning dispatching software. Increased job responsibility with no increased pay. All calls are routed to monitoring but they need a more organized phone tree for customers it is difficult to assist a customer who is asking about billing or user guide information when you have a fire alarm to handle. You will lie daily to customer's about equipment malfunctions and issues just for retention purposes. They take on multiple acquisitions without ungergoing training and comprehension for all employees about them because they care more about money and job security. When people quit they blame the job not being a good fit for the person instead of innovating ways to retain employees like team bulding, seminars and more available training for those who seek and/or need it. Company culture there isn't one. They stress team morale but take no action to build it. Please seek a job/career elsewhere.

When I first started working for Bay Alarm it seemed like an amazing company but the surface was just that the surface.  The company prides itself on being family oriented and it even lists family values in its core values, although this is part of their core values you are considered a number by management.  Management cares less about you they treat their employees like robots meaning you are not to have a life or circumstances outside Bay Alarm.  The turn over rate is super high because of the demands of management.  A typical day consists of handling a varriety of calls which include anything from Fire Alarms to Trouble signals. You are expected to handle calls in less than two minutes if you do not you will be told in a meeting you are not meeting standards.   If there are calls holding the supervisor yells for you to wrap up your call because one element of bonuses depend on how fast calls are answered.  If calls hold for too long instead of picking up calls the managers will walk around and look to make sure everyone is on the phone.  If you like to be yelled at, micromanaged and treated like a robot this is the company for you.  If you just need some quick money to hold you over and you can deal with the stress then this is the company for you.  If you want a company where you can grow and showcase your talents go elsewhere where you will be appreciated and not treated as a stat on their leader board.

For seven straight years, from 9 in the morning to 5:30 in the afternoon it was me and my truck. Typically I would awaken 7 in the morning, go through my morning routine, and in the truck at 8 programming the GPS coordinates to my first destination in the morning. 

While working for Bay Alarm I learned to service various types of alarm and fire systems. With technology constantly evolving I was forced to stay up to date with the changes in industry which in turn made the job fun because it was always changing. 

Knowing the difference between leadership and management it's had to give management, at my level, a good evaluation however management above my direct level at corporate/ownership did everything that they could to indirectly assist in motivating the driving force of their company offering many fringe benefits, constantly awarding their employees with trips, money, TV's, etc... 

People are people as good comes with the bad but I can say Bay Alarm did their best to hire very good candidates to work for their company as the coworkers I work with always seemed to be pleasant. 

Because of the constant changes in the alarm industry the hardest part of the job was to stay informed due to the demands of the customers. 

Being somewhat of a techy, the most enjoyable part of the job was the infinite amount of technology that was available to help make me more productive in the industry,

Each day @ Bay Alarm is ridiculously strenuous and unrewarding. It seems as though you get beat down for eight hours on Monday and it continues until the end of your work week. Their training is really good. For the most part, they are always willing to train. Co-workers are okay. Kind of clicky but they are respectful, for the most part. It's a tough place to work because of the low wages and high expectations. You are pushed to the limit every single day with little compensation to show for it. Even though I liked most people I worked with, I wouldn't recommend this place for anyone with experience. If you're new to working, then go for it. However, if you have experience to back you up, I would suggest that you keep looking because this is just a job and not a career. The Team Lead is unprofessional and in love with the younger male workers. It's as though he is fixated on them and it isn't right for business. There wasn't much that I liked about the job. I guess I enjoyed the some of the people and the food that they gave us every so often.

Every morning I would start my day as reporting to central station to advise that I am in route to my first service call for the day. I arrive and notify central with the customer's account to put there system in test. Do what is required as per call. Test and educate customer on system and obtain paperwork on the job with signature of completion. Notify central that the job is completed and activate customers system and I would be in route to my next call. 

The management is a family oriented company. They take care of there employees. Co-workers are friendly and well knowledgeable and are great to work as a team. 

The hardest part of the job would be some of the physical aspects like going in crawl space and attics in summer time.  Although completing and satisfying the customers needs is the best of my job knowing that I am able to solve the customers problems with there system.

pay is ok, benefits are good if you are looking for job security and health Insurance ect. 

management seem to have culture of finger pointing and show a lack of integrity due to the fact that they will send unprepared and inexperienced techs on solo alarm installations.

training is an absolute joke and totally inconsistent across the board, at least at this location. 

managers and so called "trainers" will expect quality work but not allow for time to execute quality work. 

sales people constantly miss sell accounts leaving the technician to salvage the job which consumes job units, 

management exhibits totally unprofessional, disrespectful, and condescending behavior such as speaking badly about its employees to other managers as well as other employees, while in meetings claiming to be a "family". 

having the vehicle and gas card is beneficial.

Alot of micromanaging, you won’t be able to fit in unless you are friends with management. No type of promotions unless you go and apply for the position yourself. No type of good raises for what they have you doing in office, work is overloaded, you go above and beyond just for them to not recognize your work and skills. Supervisor is never in office states she is “working from home” but never answered when anyone in office had a question or someone needed to speak with a supervisor. Never had team meetings to express ourselves or concerns. New hires came and go because supervisor was never there to physically train them instead had current sales assistant’s train. Never made full complete bonuses due to everyone quitting and not being about to complete our sales goal. Call center is separated from the rest of the company treated differently. Unless you are friends with management you will last! 

This job is for you if you have nothing to aspire to become in the future, no wife or kids, possible have roommates and divorced over the age of 40. 

This job is very dull and boring so do not expect to learn anything significant or amazing because all they do here is pull wire and bend conduit. It's very slow paced and stressful for the old techs that have been there for years without a pay raise or difference.
 
This company can not handle the cold hard facts and truth about not paying there employees enough to survive for the amount of bending over they expect you to do for them and will send endless money for parties and food for the employees instead of give out raises.

They couldn't fire me over discussing pay so they waited to find any other reason to let people go.





Worked here for nearly 6 years. If you like working with your hands and keeping fairly busy, than it may be a good fit for you.

Pros: Incredible Branch Management (ops,sales,service)
Excellent support from Management and coworkers 
Pay can be quite good, maybe a little low at the higher end of things
Company vehicle for techs (including paid for gas)
Busy, days go by quick
Close knit work life
Paid Training 

Cons:
Corporate recently has gotten too involved in things they shouldn't 
Driving is heavily monitored (dont question the robot that tracks it all, ITS NEVER WRONG)
If youre in a bigger market, the on-call side of things is rough
Training is no longer the pinnacle of the industry

All in all, its a great company to work for if youre willing to pull your weight. Can be a little bit sink or swim here but if you show initiative, you will be fine.

Top Job Titles	Average Salary
Alarm technician 60 salaries reported	$29.13 per hour
Commercial sales executive 18 salaries reported	$120,000 per year
Account representative 4 salaries reported	$55,750 per year
Inspector 20 salaries reported	$23.75 per hour
Account manager 13 salaries reported	$60,000 per year

Working at Bay Alarm: Company Overview and Reviews

Bay Alarm

Bay Alarm Ratings

Popular jobs at Bay Alarm

Salary Satisfaction

Job Seeker Tools

Employer Tools

Browse

Stay Connected