Get your running shoes ready! We’ve sponsored Toronto Pearson’s Runway Run and registration is now open. Join us on the runway Saturday, September 21st for a fun, one-of-a- kind 5K Run or 2K Walk, benefitting the community.

Learn more and register today! https://www.torontopearson.com/runwayrun/

#RunwayRun #ProudSponsor

We have been working tirelessly to develop and deploy a new reporting system for our frontline teams.

The reporting system promised to allow us to capture more accurate and valuable data from our Agents and Guards. We are happy to announce that we have launched these prototype reports at two of our aviation sites and the data is pouring in.

Utilizing the information collected, we have begun building our custom dashboards for clients at these sites. The information contained ranges from Airside Training exercises and training time to FAQs asked by the public in various key areas. This data will help illustrate ASP’s commitment to safety through recurrent training and even assist with improved wayfinding and signage throughout the facilities in which our teams are deployed.

There are exercises to do at your desk which can really improve your well-being.

There are many exercises designed for people who are busy working a desk job and don’t have the time for a normal exercise routine. Work can get stressful and it’s nice to be able to take a break, relax, and refocus on your task at hand.

Below, you’ll find some exercises designed to keep you in shape and help calm your mind when you need it most.

1. Leg Planks

Strengthen your legs while sitting at your desk. No one will even know you’re getting a workout! Simply sit on the edge of your chair with your knees bent and feet on the floor. Extend your right leg out in front of you until it’s straight and parallel with the floor. Hold this pose for 10-15 seconds, release, and repeat with your other leg. Do the exercise five times on each leg.

2.  Foot Drill

Another exercise to do at your desk is a Foot Drill. Remember how football players tap their feet in place while at practice? You can do the same thing at your desk! While seated, try tapping your feet for 30 seconds at a time – or longer if you can!

3.  Shoulder Raises

These are a great way to relieve tension in your neck and back. Raise your shoulders up toward your ears, hold for 15 seconds, and relax. For an even bigger stretch, do just one shoulder at a time, then alternate five times each.

4.  Back Twists

Relieve more tension in your back by doing a back twist. To start, sit in your chair and place your right arm behind your right hip. Twist to the right side and hold for 15 seconds, then repeat on the other side.

I have met many employees within our organization with tremendous talent and who may not be working in a position to meet their fullest potential.

ASP is a growing company and with growth comes opportunity. Promoting from within is preferred, but the challenge is identifying the right candidate. Below are a few tips on how to get noticed for the purpose of career advancement.

1. Start with the Basics
   Basic qualities like punctuality and deportment may not seem like something an employer would focus on when it comes to escalated positions. But these are deal breaking factors that set a strong impression and stay in an employer’s mind for quite a while. No matter how skilled you are, management will have little confidence in your capability if you can’t do the basics.
2. Take Ownership
   Would you do your job any differently if you actually owned ASP? Because an owner is more invested in the success of the company, they tend to go the extra mile – for example, creating a process to make things easier or even just cleaning out a locker that has months of old documents in it. Some workers take the initiative, while some others just turn a blind eye and have the “not my problem” mentality. It is easy for employers to see which workers have taken ownership of their job.
3. Impress with Reports
   Managers and clients tend to look at incident reports very closely. If you are involved in an incident and are requested to complete a report, remember that you now have a captive audience of people in a position who can contribute to your promotion. Be sure to include the 5 W’s and all relevant detail.
   You have an even greater opportunity to impress if you are involved in electronic reporting since these tend to get read by high-ranking individuals more often. Several ASP employees who excelled in reporting have moved over to GTAA Security.
4. Keep in the Know
   There have been several coordinator, management and administration positions recently, with very few internal applications. You may not receive a notification when an opportunity within ASP arises, so it’s important to regularly check the careers section of the ASP Website. Salaried and non-salaried positions are found on the careers section of the website, while the hourly positions can be found by clicking on the “Internal Opportunities” link.

Does Social Media Boost Employee Engagement? Social media has become a great tool for companies to use in order to promote employee engagement. Many employees are not actively engaged at work, and, as a result, many employers are turning to digital tools to help them with employee engagement.

Given the prevalence of social media sites, the use of the digital space to create more employee engagement makes sense. Using platforms such as Facebook or Instagram makes it easier to post longer articles or updates on the company, whereas Twitter can provide up-to-date news within the company. Providing your employees with multiple channels to engage with the organization helps them feel more connected. This improves engagement over time.

One way to boost employee engagement via social media is through recognition. Many individuals feel disengaged with the company they work for because they do no receive feedback or recognition on a job well done. Social media makes recognition a simple, streamlined, and achievable task for managers and supervisors.

Social media can also be used for posting current internal and external career opportunities within the company. Utilizing your following can draw more attention to roles you are looking to fill. This may, in turn, result in employee recognition for referrals.

Social media has become a great source to utilize for company updates, career postings, job fairs as well as updates on company events. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter to get the latest updates.

Facebook: A.S.P. Incorporated

Instagram: @asp_security

Twitter: ASPSecurity

With a fantastic season, the Toronto Raptors went into the playoffs with one goal, which was to win, and they did just that! The Toronto Raptors are the 2019 NBA Champions.

With 24 years of hard work, the team utilized their skills and performed better than ever. Seeing the development of the players, team as well as the coaches has been wonderful.

As an employee of ASP and due to the nature of our business, you may find yourself facing the media.

If you are in front of the media during an event or a crisis and appear rude, unsympathetic and insecure, that can damage the reputation of ASP and our clients. If you come across as calm and collected or even apologetic, you can enhance ASP and our client’s reputations.

How can we get it right? Prepare, because media likes controversy and may take advantage of individuals who seem unsure and unprepared. Preparing is having a strategy in mind when dealing with a crisis and media may be present. If you are in a situation, small or large, and the media is present, you can follow these tips to help ASP as a brand and uphold our client’s reputation.

1. Stay calm and professional.

Talking to a reporter can be difficult. Keep your responses light; don’t make jokes as you may be quoted out of context. Remember the reporter is looking to make news from what you say.

Stick to confirmed facts and don’t offer more information than required. Most importantly, act normal and relax to avoid sounding insincere or unsympathetic. Offer reassurance to all people involved whether it be the media, staff or coworkers. First impressions matter, so speak clearly and confidently.

2. Never say anything you wouldn’t want published.

There is no such thing as ‘off-the-record’ when talking with a reporter. Anything you say can be used without permission to publish online or print. Be accurate and truthful in everything you say. If you are unsure, decline to respond. Example: “I do not have that information”.

The importance of office ergonomics is often overlooked until someone experiences discomfort or sustains an injury, such as carpal tunnel or a repetitive strain injury.

By implementing the following simple changes in the setup of your workspace, you can help prevent these injuries from occurring in the first place.

Chair: Adjust the height of your chair so that your feet rest flat on the floor and your knees are bent at a 90-degree angle. Your forearms should be parallel to the floor while your hands are resting on your keyboard and your wrists should not be bent. Pay attention to your posture and avoid slouching while seated.

Computer Monitor: Your monitor should be positioned at or slightly below eye level. Adjust the brightness of your monitor and take frequent eye breaks to reduce the likelihood of eye strain. The Canadian Association of Optometrists recommends that you follow the 20-20-20 rule for eye breaks: Every 20 minutes, take a 20-second break, and focus your eyes on something at least 20 feet away.

Desk: Ensure that frequently used items on your desk are placed within easy reach, eliminating the need to stretch unnecessarily. Remove items from under your desk that may be preventing you from having proper foot placement. Move or tie up loose cables that could pose a tripping hazard.

By following these tips, you are taking the first steps to having a safe and comfortable workspace. This will enhance your productivity and help you avoid future pain and discomfort. It can sometimes be difficult to see the value in spending time to set up an ergonomic workspace, but these minor changes could prevent a major injury.

Motivation is the force that drives us to do things – the inspiration behind our behaviour and our actions. It is what gets us up in the morning and keeps us going through the day.

I had the pleasure of conversing with a young man recently. He had just completed his basic training and started
work as an airport security guard. The passion this young man had for his new role was evident in his facial expressions, body language and tone of voice as well as the words which he spoke. He told me about his love for aviation and how this job fulfilled this passion. He embraced the recruitment and training process and was so proud to put on his uniform and begin work. His trainer informed me that he had never seen a new employee with such passion, energy and excitement. This young man’s positive mindset, passion and energy will be a source of motivation and energy for others.

Observing someone who is beginning their career with a true awareness of their passion and self- motivation is truly inspiring. It forces you to take a step back and ask yourself – what is my motivation? As time goes by, our motivations will change, therefore it is important we self-assess and identify those things in life that really motivate and inspire us to be the best we can be. Self-motivation is a life skill, which we should build upon and nurture throughout our entire life. It is behind our success in all areas of life and in everything we do.

Motivated and passionate employees are more resilient and energetic about their work, have a stronger sense of wellbeing and provide a positive source of energy for others around them.

On June 27th, 2019, ASP Security Services and Airfield Access Inc. got together for the 5th annual Client Appreciation Golf Tournament.

The charity chosen this year to sponsor was Reach Out Centre for Kids.

ROCK™ was designated by the Ministry of Child and Youth Services (MCYS) as the child and youth mental health Lead Agency for Halton in August 2014. With programs and services that run out of 11

sites and three main offices, ROCK™ is committed to being inclusive, client-centred and family-centred. With over 40 years of service in Halton, we are dedicated to building strong people, strong families and strong communities. ROCK™ promotes and achieves optimal mental health in kids and families.

The golf tournament was a phenomenal success.

Clients and employees gathered together to help support a good cause. Raffles, putting contests and silent auction items had guests donating to a great cause. The total value raised $2,675!

Thank you to all our clients, sponsors and employees for their continued hard work, and a big thank you also goes out to Reach Out Centre for Kids for the ongoing support they provide to the community.