Is Allied Universal a good company to work for?

Allied Universal has an overall rating of 3.0 out of 5, based on over 13,686 reviews left anonymously by employees. This rating has been stable over the past 12 months. 46% of employees would recommend working at Allied Universal to a friend and 36% have a positive outlook for the business. The best reviews about Allied Universal have been left by employees working as Event Staff , Special Police Officer and Fire Safety Director .

Does Allied Universal pay their employees well?

According to anonymously submitted Glassdoor reviews, Allied Universal employees rate their compensation and benefits as 2.7 out of 5. Find out more about salaries and benefits at Allied Universal. This rating has been stable over the past 12 months.

How satisfied are employees working at Allied Universal?

46% of Allied Universal employees would recommend working there to a friend based on Glassdoor reviews . Employees also rated Allied Universal 2.9 out of 5 for work life balance, 2.6 for culture and values and 2.8 for career opportunities.

What are the top reviewed jobs at Allied Universal?

Security Officer (4313) , Security Guard (1753) , Unarmed Security Officer (507) , Security Professional (495) , Armed Security Officer (269) , Account Manager (243) , Unarmed Security Guard (228) , Security Supervisor (212) , Shift Supervisor (211) , Site Supervisor (185) , Security (142) , Supervisor (142) , Security Officer - Site Supervisor (91) , Operations Manager (70) , Security Officer/Security Guard (59)

What are the pros of working at Allied Universal according to real employee reviews?

"I use to work for G4S and Allied completed their merger/buyout this October the weekly pay is good" ((in 1131 reviews)); "Flexible hours and great for full" ((in 308 reviews)); "Those were just good people trying to do the right thing and they all eventually leave." ((in 303 reviews)); "Easy money and fast start" ((in 157 reviews)); "They have flexible schedules and a lot of overtime" ((in 154 reviews))

What are the cons of working at Allied Universal according to real employee reviews?

"And poor management!!" ((in 1113 reviews)); "There are no benefits and the pay is to low to buy into their dental plan." ((in 417 reviews)); "Not all operational managers is bad but the one I work with Rarely would ever respond to your messages let alone pick up your call." ((in 277 reviews)); "Communication with relocating management candidates is poor." ((in 232 reviews)); "Supervisors can be rude and think they’re better than you because they make a few dollars more" ((in 203 reviews))

What are employees saying about Allied Universal layoffs in 2026?

Explore Glassdoor’s employee reviews to understand what current and former employees are saying about Allied Universal layoffs and their outlook for job security at Allied Universal in 2026.

What are the top reviewed Allied Universal locations?

New York , Los Angeles , Atlanta , Seattle , Houston , Dallas , San Diego , Philadelphia , San Francisco , Chicago , San Jose , Denver , Charlotte , Austin , Tampa , Washington , Las Vegas , San Antonio , Miami , Boston , Phoenix , Orlando , Raleigh , Indianapolis , Nashville , Columbus , Baltimore , Saint Louis , Menlo Park , Salt Lake City

Allied Universal reviews

3.0

46% would recommend to a friend

(13,313 total reviews)

Steve Jones

45% approve of CEO

36% positive business outlook

Ratings by demographic groups

Race / Ethnicity

Gender

Sexual orientation

Disability

Parent or family caregiver

Veteran status

Allied Universal has an employee rating of 3.0 out of 5 stars, based on 13,313 company reviews on Glassdoor which indicates that most employees have an average working experience there. The Allied Universal employee rating is in line with the average (within 1 standard deviation) for employers within the Management & Consulting industry (3.5 stars).

Reviews by job title

13K reviews

4.0

Feb 23, 2022

Not a bad job

Security guard

Recommend

CEO approval

Business Outlook

Pros

They have positions for whatever schedule or workplace you are looking for. You can work as a Flex and choose your own hours and job day to day or week to week, and full-time at single locations if you are looking for something steadier. Good pay for unskilled work, I recommend it for students or those transitioning careers.

Cons

No idea what the promotion criteria is, but they need to rethink it. Managers can be spiteful for Flexs who refuse an opening or disorganized and lazy at full-time postings. Co-workers are hit and miss on compotancy, but managers are all a bunch of idiots. I suggest working nights so you don't have to deal with them. You will 100% be forced to do things that are not your job and work overtime with no notice. Also no advancement opportunities to speak of.

1.0

Feb 21, 2022

Your key to hating the security field

Unarmed security officer

Recommend

CEO approval

Business Outlook

Pros

You'll be highly motivated to quit working as a security officer and find new meaning in your life as someone with value, because Allied sees you as a disposable (and stupid) worker who should be grateful to eat their pay scraps. The people I work with at my level are often good people. So are most site supervisors, but their requests to increase pay, or change uncool site rules are always and instantly shut down by senior allied management.

Cons

Where do I even begin. Allied refused to give pay raises for guards who have to deal with threats in the form of crazy transients on a daily basis. After 3 years of working here my pay increased by 25 cents! Here are some of the cons: - Extremely low wage for a job that requires constant attention, 8 hours of movement, and interacting with crazies and homeless that threaten you while committing crimes. - No lunch breaks - 60 hours of PTO per year. But when you request it, it never shows up on a paycheck, ever! - No reimbursement for over $300 in parking fees REQUIRED to work the site. - Always understaffed because good people understand the mental burden this job brings and lack of financial security with it. No seriously, I've never seen a day where we had full staff in 3 years of working for allied. - will make you drive to lakewood to do some simple b.s. at their office, when it could be handled electronically. - CEO is making millions, while employees have to work 60 hour weeks to survive. - writes you up for using your phone to escape the hell that is sitting in one spot all day when you're not allowed to leave a stationary post. - got transferred sites for verbally defending myself against an abusive Amazon employee at wbu-11 pearl Street Boulder site. Stay away from the female ginger grinch there. Also goodbye my good wbu-11 coworker friends.. - there isn't even an HR number on the site because they KNOW there would be too many complaints, instead you have to email HR and well, you'll wait weeks to get a response. - health insurance with the company will cost you $90 a week taken from your paycheck, and it doesn't cover anything. - if you raise complaints like I'm doing now they threaten you (I'm sure this post will soon let me follow up on that point)

4.0

Jan 27, 2022

Under-utilitized job source for seniors, retirees

Security professional

Recommend

CEO approval

Business Outlook

Pros

Security Guard jobs vary enormously. Allied, as the largest company, has a great variety of openings in many areas. Some assignments are horrible, some good for those who like to keep busy, some ideal for peace and quiet and almost complete absence of stress. Older people are ideal because their work ethic and basic experience in knowing what it means to do a good job and, above all, to show up on time, immediately put them in the top 75% of employees. Really! Many seniors are killing themselves working at Walmart or Jack in the Box when they could have reasonably satisfying, minimally demanding jobs in which their best qualities are *appreciated*. Go to work for a big contract security company like Allied, put up with being bounced around for six months, and you'll learn how to land an absolutely ideal slot. And if you are still motivated, advancement is ridiculously easy (although beware -- the stress of a supervisory position can be brutal). Pay is minimum wage.

Cons

There's no simple answer. Assignments can be absolutely horrible. Supervision and management likewise. Luck is involved, but the main thing is to stick with it while picking out what you want. With turnover as high as 50% a year, and many of your fellow workers lacking in every skill imaginable, your chance to become one of the most highly valued employees is excellent.

Viewing 73 - 75 of 13,313 Reviews

Jobs at Allied Universal

Security Officer Front Desk Reception

Security Officer Lobby Desk

Security Receptionist

Security Guard Patrol Officer

Security Guard Unarmed Patrol