A survey of Burnett Plaza office workers revealed that the prestigious building’s biggest draw wasn’t the state-of-the-art conference rooms, or the accessible location of the massive commercial office space situated right in the heart of everything in downtown Fort Worth, TX.
Rather, an astonishing 20% cited the Security personnel as one of their favorite parts of the workday, with another 38% attributing their good mood to “Check, Check.”
So what is Check Check?
The phrase actually originates from this 40-story building and was started by one person – Mr. Clydale Robinson.
He’s the high-profile, affable and intuitively-helpful security officer on duty in the late evenings at Burnett Plaza. As part of his duties, he playfully repeats the phrase Check Check throughout the day, reminding everyone to check for all their belongings before leaving.
Do you have your phone? Check.
Keys? Check.
Wallet? Check.
Badge? Check, check.
But Mr. Robinson does so much more than just remind people to check for their belongings. He actually checks on the well-being of everyone who walks past him. And this makes everyone who comes in contact with him feel very special.
As several U.S. companies report employee burnout, experts stress the importance of human connection to mental health. That is really at the heart of what makes Mr. Robinson a legend. He makes people feel seen, he makes them smile, and he makes them feel safe.
After 40 years in the security industry, Mr. Robinson knows it’s more than just a quick in-and-out. Having been held up at gunpoint while at a former security job decades ago, Mr. Robinson knows how important physical safety is. But he also knows how important it is for employees to feel secure and supported in their workplace, too.
And while safety for his tenants is a top priority, it’s his warm smile welcoming every team member at Burnett Plaza that makes him a true legend. In fact, many recall that Mr. Robinson was the one who ushered them into their first job interview at Burnett Plaza — but not before giving them a little encouragement.
“When people come in for an interview, it’s sort of like I interview them before they go to their destination. I tell them to go to the restroom and look in the mirror and just take a deep breath and say, ‘I can do this.’”
And while his work at Burnett Plaza touches everyone who walks through the door, Mr. Robinson seems to positively impact so many others who exist outside the building.
On nights when he works late in the downtown neighborhood, he makes a point to check on the homeless to offer food and drink. He knows they need someone too. But his benevolence does not stop there.
He also used to volunteer at Cooks’ Children’s Hospital before the pandemic. But despite not being on site, last year Mr. Robinson was able to deliver 61 teddy bears to the hospital in Check, Check’s Annual Prayer Bear Drive.
Currently, he volunteers at the Texas Southwest hospital system, where he delivers water, coffee, and good company as he makes his rounds as a nursing assistant volunteer where he can visit as many as 80 patients a day!
These are just a few reasons why we are proud to recognize Mr. Robinson’s outstanding accomplishments. And we are not alone.
Mr. Robinson was recognized and given the National Employee of the Year award (during his tenure at Burnett Plaza) whereby both Allied and ADM have commended his commitment and contribution to the workforce.
But he doesn’t do it for the awards or accolades. He does it from the heart. “My best interaction is when I meet a person and they need somebody in a difficult time. I will not let them have a bad day, and sometimes, they’ll just have to live with that,” he says with a knowing smile.
According to Mr. Robinson, “When you treat ‘em like family, you get a lot of love.”
In an increasingly disconnected world, Mr. Clydale Robinson is working to foster human connection, even on our worst days. And THAT is why he is universally beloved by all who know him.
