Avoid Security Unless You're Desperate - Dispatcher UCLA Health Employee Review

If you're considering joining the Security division think carefully. My experience as a full-time security dispatcher was, to put it mildly, awful. There are few redeeming qualities of an otherwise toxic and mismanaged workplace. The dispatch manager, let's call her "Smary", was one of the least competent leaders I’ve encountered in my professional career. Her solution to chronic understaffing and daily call-offs was to place the burden squarely the newest member of the team. Despite working 50-hour weeks to fill in gaps, I was told I wasn’t “pulling my weight.” This led me to increasing my hours to a grueling 70 hours per week for two months straight—at the expense of my health and well-being. Not once did management step in to address the root cause of the issue: employees exploiting the call-off system without accountability. The work environment was equally dismal. There was significant racial tension among staff that stemmed from a prior incident where a dispatcher used a racial slur in the presence of a Black coworker. The fallout was palpable, with strained relationships and awkward silences during shifts. Management was either oblivious or indifferent to these issues, as no steps were taken to mediate the situation. The operational dysfunction didn’t end there. There was no proper training program in place. New hires were left to learn on the fly from coworkers who often provided outdated or incorrect information. To make matters worse, the dispatch center lacked a clear structure for dividing tasks. Instead of separating phone and radio duties to ensure efficiency, every dispatcher handled calls and radios simultaneously. This chaotic approach led to duplicate efforts and unanswered transmissions, which could have had serious consequences. When I brought this up with "Smary", her response was dismissive: “We do things differently here.” Not “correctly”—just differently. For anyone with experience, skills, or even basic common sense, I strongly advise staying away from this poorly managed operation. The workplace culture is toxic, the management is incompetent, and the overall structure is dysfunctional. Unless significant changes are made—such as hiring qualified managers who can effectively lead a large operation and holding employees accountable for chronic call-offs—this workplace will continue to drag down anyone who steps through its doors. In short: if you value your sanity, look elsewhere.