security guard

security supervisor

shift manager

site supervisor

dispatcher

Paragon Security

Speaking as someone who worked with the company for 5+ years:

Management only cares about their own pockets, few at all care about the guards financial well being or their well being at all. Have a MANDATORY Union membership that really doesn't do more than the Labour Code of Canada and Labour Relations Canada Requires by law for any general labourer/ worker.
They are great at making it look great for the company, the opposite of that is the real experience of the guards, but once you have worked for the company you find out the hard way that most of management likes to promise what they never intend to give. 
The management that does care gets quashed and lowered to the the point where they give up trying to make a difference or great work atmosphere. 
As far as sites. The only way you're not dealing with BS DRAMA is if you work at a site all by yourself, and then you deal with a manager that is nothing but unethical, demeaning, and completely unprofessional in approach, at least most of the managers are that way. Getting ahead in the company is completely based on how you look and how well you are at spewing sales pitch garbage. 
The company hires based not on skill or experience, but on desperation of an individual applying, and takes very little to no effort to background check who they are hiring. You don't even need a security license to get hired, they will feed you the answers to the tests in a 'class setting' where you do group tests so that everyone passes the internal company tests to make the company look good and have something to boast about to clients and potential clients on paper. Not sure of the passing rate for guards who write the Provincial Security Test for a Security Guard License. Paragon does 'Offer' the course for free, with the catch that you work for them, otherwise they charge you for it. Oh, and when they hire you they charge you for your uniform, which is dictated by the client of where your posted, the cost ranging generally from $400 upwards, which they deduct from your cheques till it's paid off, oh and did I mention that frequently the uniforms have been previously worn and are not new? If you quit the company before the time the uniforms are paid off, they illegally withhold your cheque until you drop off the uniform at the head office and it is inspected. If any issues of normal wear and tear are found they charge you extra for the uniform.
They often hire people with NO SECURITY EXPERIENCE, then placing the person at a high profile site because of how they look. Truly a bad experience for a company of its size. They sell the idea of security to their clients, but in reality, don't really do much to secure that is what the client is getting after they have the company into a contract. 
THEY DON'T LISTEN TO THEIR GUARDS WHO ACTUALLY KNOW WHAT IS GOING ON THEIR SITES, AS THEY ARE THE ONES ON SITE DAY IN DAY OUT! 
A TERRIBLE COMPANY TO WORK FOR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

All security companies are the same. Terrible work for terrible pay regardless of your level of experience.This company in particular is something special.  I was hired on to Paragon with 3+ years of experience from a high security site. The wage I was offered at the start was minimum wage, but I was promised that I would receive a pay increase within three months (this did not happen). Paragon will also hire you as part time so that you are not entitled to benefits, but they will force you to work full time hours, and make you feel bad when you say no to working so many hours. The administration staff are clueless and give incorrect answers to questions you raise. Staff are not made aware of their rights either. Administration will inform part time employees that they are not apart of the union, but you will have to pay union dues and they cannot explain why. (You pay union dues because every employee of paragon is apart of the union regardless working either part or full time hours) Management appears to care about their employees, however it is very evident the only thing they care about is work. I was hospitalized for 10 days with a serious medical complication, and once I was out of hospital I was unable to return to work for a month. During the time I was in hospital I received daily texts asking when I was coming back to work because the other guards at my site were short staffed and needed help. Although once I provided a doctors note stating I could not work for a month I received texts or calls at least once a week.  On top of all of this, at the beginning of employment you are required to purchase your uniform, however once you either quit or are fired they require you to give the uniform back (without any form of reimbursement). This company is great to work for if you enjoy getting walked all over and working for a company that really does not care about your well being at all. 

Where do I begin? This company is a joke. From the get-go, you had to pay for your uniform and equipment (a red flag), management has no integrity, and you get treated less than human, reduced to nothing but a number to them. Training is lacklustre, their clients' sites are okay but Paragon management is something else. There are so many violations of the code of ethics, human rights, and labour laws that they like to sweep under the rug. Long 12-hour continental shifts mean you don't have a life outside of work, because you'll be so exhausted all you'll do is rest and recuperate on your days off. Benefits? What's that? You don't get any information on any of that but you'll be paying for it even if you're not enrolled and have no benefits. Oh you have a problem that management won't deal with, let's call the union rep since we're paying 50 for it every paycheck right? Nope. Management and union are in bed with each other. They won't help you, you don't even know their existence and their coup #. That how little info this company gives you. You will have to constantly call HR people because they don't have the answers ready for you, and you can't trust your schedulers because they give different answers everytime. You have to keep checking your pay stub and your hours because they can't even get that right, and dispute it every time. They have favourites, and only those get the chance to move up, not based on merits, no, sir. There is no accountability from this company, you will be nothing but a machine to line their pockets. I have many stories but I will leave it at this. Turn around and find somewhere else to apply. Go find somewhere that will treat you like you actually matter as a human being and doesn't suck all your life out. Stay away from this company. Beware! 

Typical Day at Work
A typical day at Paragon Security involves ensuring the safety and security of designated properties, monitoring access points, conducting regular patrols, and responding to incidents or emergencies. The role demands a high level of alertness and professionalism throughout the shift.

What I Learned
Working at Paragon Security taught me valuable skills such as conflict resolution, effective communication, and maintaining composure under pressure. I also gained experience in following strict security protocols and using advanced security systems.

Management
The management team is approachable and supportive, offering clear instructions and regular feedback. However, opportunities for further training or advancement could be improved to enhance employee growth.

Workplace Culture
The workplace culture is diverse and team-oriented. Collaboration among team members is encouraged, and the company fosters a professional environment focused on accountability and respect.

The Hardest Part of the Job
The most challenging aspect of the job is handling unpredictable situations, such as resolving conflicts or addressing security breaches. These moments require quick thinking and decisive action, which can be stressful but also rewarding.

The Most Enjoyable Part of the Job
The most enjoyable part of working at Paragon Security is the sense of responsibility and accomplishment in ensuring the safety of people and properties. Building positive relationships with colleagues and clients adds to the overall satisfaction of the role.

Feel free to tweak this based on your specific experiences!

This role looks promising on paper, but the internal reality is the opposite. Leadership sells “growth opportunities,” “diversity,” and “career development,” but those are marketing terms—not lived practices. Advancement is predetermined through favoritism and internal alliances, not merit or performance. Positions are never posted and decisions are made in private, then quietly announced once their preferred candidate has already been placed. Employees who put in the work are treated as placeholders rather than talent.

Compensation remains stagnant and disproportionate to the workload, responsibility, and stress demanded from the position. Recognition is selective, constructive feedback is rare, and those expecting transparency, structure, or equitable treatment will be disappointed. If your goal is to build a long-term career, you will hit a ceiling immediately.

Pros:
• Training infrastructure is solid
• Frontline peers are committed, supportive, and skilled

Cons:
• Compensation does not match scope or accountability
• No transparent internal mobility or postings
• Promotions awarded through favoritism, not performance
• Diversity messaging exists only externally
• High stress, no recognition, minimal support from leadership
• Zero career trajectory for ambitious employees

Bottom Line:
A functional job if you only need hours. A career dead-end if you have ambition, talent, or expectations of fairness.

I worked at Paragon for just under a year from various "floater sites" (random sites the scheduler books you in for usually the day of) and at a permanent position at Durham College/UOIT. Pay is pathetic at $14/h, when you get hired you are to pay a ridiculous uniform fee (ballpark of $300+) which you will be deducted in your pay, and will most likely keep getting deducted AFTER you've already paid it off so make sure you keep track of your paystubs. Also if you work overtime do not expect to get paid for it, again make sure you check your paystubs and your hours. I would recommend you document every shift you work to properly account your time. Still it is a very easy job very common with students as it's an easy way to get the odd shift into your school life. Would not recommend for a career. This is simply a "bum job" as I like to call them. Clock in, do your patrols, make sure you don't fall asleep. Job can be very lonely depending on which site you are place, whether that's a good thing or not is up to you. Just make sure you have a book. Even though in my time working here I never got into a physical altercation with somebody, the job can be uneasy at times depending on your location. Also you are immediately placed into a union that will never stand up for you (they actually hung up on a coworker of mine twice) but will never forget to take the money from your pay. 


Honestly most of this review is bad because it is a pretty lame job, but if you're just looking for a job to get in some long hours quickly, this is most likely your best bet.m; as long as they pay you for them.

Working with paragon has been great for the better part of about 7+ years. The first three years were great. I had great co workers and company management was great also. They were very helpful in helping address issues and come to a resolution that would help please all parties. The condo placement I was at during the first three years was very good in terms of work environment, building management and co workers. The job was frustrating at time but overall was an exciting place to work. Once you head up to supervisor levels things start to change. At least in my case. My company Client Service Mnager was a real pain to work with sadly. He didn’t really care much for the people working there and just wanted to please the client. While that is understandable as the client can either keep or terminate the contract at the end date but the people working their help the company keep the contract first hand as we are the face of the company on site. I was there for a year ad a half until he was removed. At my next location it wasn’t much better. Rich condo residents always feel so entitled and want everything their way when in actuality, we had no control over what procedures, rules and regulation were in place set by building management. As well, you may get called in to cover shifts and they may even  In short, it was great to work there but after 7+ years, it was time to leave and find a new path. Join the company but try to save up and find something better. 

Company and Union seem to be in bed together.

Company backs client over employees regardless of merit.

Worth it for Company to trample employees rights over client expectation due to insignificant consequences of any complaint made about a the company or client.

Many trashy sites, understaffed (1 guard for 550 unit condo) Condos are really cheap and expect you to be the post office and security while never taking a break. Lots of crazy tenants with no life will call you non stop about stuff that isn't your job or have a major misconception of what they bought as condo from the developer real estate marketing of the unit. They usually showcase security a personal butler for the whole buildings needs to a unlimited imagination level by the tenant.

Overall its not the worst company buts its getting there. Paragon has a lot of sites that need a time study done on them. Expectations of the client too high for what is provided or reasonably capable in any logical sense. 

Paragon pretends not to be a bottom feeding company anymore.  

Promotions unlikely, they fill supervisor with insider family and friends. They will even send incompetent insiders to be in charge over already trained onsite guards with better skills. 

Don't expect much from Paragon as they don't seem to respect employees like all other security company's. 

When you first arrive at Head Office Paragon, it looks very professional. However, unless you are selected for a flagship property, you will be working for very low wages and expected to work on a moments notices, is is a good thing if you're not concerned about work life balance and want the overtime.  If you are at a flagship property, you will have to continually deal with transient guards with no site training, a low level of personal pride and professionalism and lacking the required equipment. Paragon is always hiring, due to the high turn over, this is usually based on the fact that after a very short while (unless you are new to the country and have little command over the english language) you discover there is something better out there. 
Management is liken to used car salesman, lacking in leadership skills but filled with many promises (beware what's really behind the smile). 
Advancement within the company is impossible as there is limited room, if you have any skill you will be stuck and remain exactly where there want you, not where you wish to go. If security is an industry you wish to follow, contract security companies are not in your best interest, in-house and municipal positions offer better pay and the respect as a person you deserve. Trust me, you will not find it with this company.

I got my licence from this company in September 2015. They promised to give job too. But they gave me work just for 3-4 days in Xmas. They make the people fool that they will provide job. After that they call once every 2-3 months for one shift where no guards go. You cannot go due to some other job. Then they ask you to return uniform. They deduct money and keep the uniform too. Is this not a way of snatching money from people. If they charge money, they are not supposed to get uniform back. At the end when you return uniform, and issue for full price to new guards. Then they issue record of employment with  "M" code, means dimissed. These low natured paragon bosses do not think, if they cannot provide work then  how they are mentioning this code. This creates trouble for you for next security company. So, in this case, neber tell to new security company that you worked in this stupid company.. This is their meanness. They think all employees are their slaves. They can write ten times "M" code. we do not care.. But just for information of people who want to work for paragon. You do not need to agree with me. That is Your choice. 

Just if you want to get training of security guard, it is fine. But do not rely if they say we will give you work. That is befooling the people and snatching money from innocent immigrants.

Top Job Titles	Average salary
Security guard 157 salaries reported	$19.80 per hour
Security supervisor 6 salaries reported	$21.83 per hour
Shift manager 14 salaries reported	$24.64 per hour
Site supervisor 3 salaries reported	$21.25 per hour
Dispatcher 15 salaries reported	$21.84 per hour

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