The average worker in Jamaica who earns a minimum wage has to face a number of problems on a daily basis. These problems range from living conditions at home to work related issues. It is very interesting to learn how these workers cope with all their problems as they make up a large percentage of the Jamaican workforce. For them survival is the key as their job is seen as their "bread and butter".

In an interview with former male security guards I was able to highlight some of the problems that these workers faced. Most of these men worked for well-established Security Firms and happened to have similar social and economic problems. There was no doubt that some of them had life a little easier than others, but they shared the same sentiments about their jobs.

The main themes that derived from the transcripts of these interviews were economic, social, and emotional and job related problems. Coping strategies were also detected in the interviews. Some of the variables that were taken into consideration were age, m

Their jobs were risky especially if they were given guns on the location. They saw themselves as targets for gunmen. They encountered a lot of ridicule from the public on the job and sometimes threats from intruders. Even some clients who were asked to show identification refused to do so and abused them verbally. They encountered the same problem with the searching of vehicles.

Most of those men found their job very stressful and they had concerns about their health. For the contract workers it was said that if they were to become ill on the job the company would pay the doctor bill but it would be deducted from their income. According to Mark, if he became ill on the job and was unable to work, the company would pay him for up to 8 hours and no more. Sometimes absence from work could lead to no pay or even loss of job in the long run. Stan did say that if he got an assignment and did not turn up, he would have to pay a fine of $500.00 if he did not call in. Those men had to be on the alert at all times because it was very easy for them to lose their jobs.

Coping strategies for those security guards varied. Overtime work was one of the main ways in which those men coped with the economic problems they had. Many of them had to do "round the clock" jobs as they described it. When they were finished at one location they would go back to base and wait around for another location for the next shift. Stan for example, had to work 12 days and 12 nights whenever his rent was due. He drank water throughout because he could not afford lunch.

Chris who was 26 years old at the time of the interview had three children. His girlfriend walked out on him because he had very little time for her. He had only casual relationship with women since that time. Like Chris, some of the other security guards had similar problems with their spouse. Marcus, for example, endorsed that maintaining a relationship could be very difficult because he had to make appointment with his spouse sometimes. She would stay home and wait because she knew she would get some sex. According to Viv, "sometimes you would want to take out your girlfriend but if you miss work you know how it goes". Some of them felt left out, for example Harvey said that sometimes when he saw people going out he felt like the building he was protecting could not move.

Transportation was another problem that some of those men faced. Bart for example, worked on Spanish Town Road and found it difficult to pay bus fare or taxi fare. Sometimes he had to pay as much as $100.00 on taxi to get home. When he took the express bus he had to pay as much as $60.00 one-way to work. He was married and had a fifteen-year-old son to send

Some common words found in the essay are:
According Mark, Credit Union, According Viv, Security Firms, Town Road, Security Guard's, Health Plan, Marcus Barry, National Insurance, security guards, living conditions, coping strategies, company pay, ill job, contract workers, marcus example, social economic, stan example, bus fare, ,
Approximate Word count = 1838
Approximate Pages = 7 (250 words per page double spaced)