Receptionists and employees that are in a greeter type of position in a company carry with them a responsibility that has a definite effect upon the success of an organization: making a good first impression. It has been said many times: you do not get a second chance to make that first impression, but there is much more to this type of job than most people imagine. Receptionists, greeters and information clerks have to answer telephones, route and screen calls, greet visitors, respond to inquiries from the public and assist with way finding and providing information about the organization. Some are responsible for the coordination of all mail into and out of the office and for the delivery of packages and parcels and courier pick ups. There are myriad other functions that these employees provide for companies on a daily basis, but often they are overlooked when it comes to one of the most important roles that they can play – contributing to the overall security of your facility, employees and assets.

Receptionists and greeters can contribute significantly to the security of an organization by helping to monitor the access of visitors (a function that has become increasingly important) as well as being the “eyes and ears” of security. Security at any organization should be every employee’s responsibility, and your receptionists and greeters are certainly your first line of defense when it comes to spotting and reporting suspicious activity, stopping or identifying unwelcome visitors and protecting the perimeter of the facility. With the appropriate training on what to look for and how to respond to unusual activity or adverse incidents, these employees can be a huge asset and a force multiplier to any security program.