I'm facing an issue in my workplace where temporary employees frequently walk off with access cards for our electronic door locks that use HID readers. My initial idea was to punch a hole in the card and attach it to a large piece of acrylic, but I worry that the card might just break off. My next thought was to sandwich the card between pieces of acrylic, but that feels excessive. While these cards only cost about 75 cents, it's frustrating to deal with having to constantly clean up lost cards from the security system. I'm looking for effective solutions to make it more difficult for these cards to go missing. Any suggestions would really help!
5 Answers
You might want to consider using bright, retractable badge holders for the temp cards. This way, the cards are always visible and it’s easier to notice if someone tries to walk off with one. Alternatively, using cheap single-use cards that automatically expire at the end of their assignment could help too. It simplifies management and reduces the risk of lost cards.
Don’t forget to activate those temp cards only when needed! Just deactivating them isn’t enough if people don’t feel the importance of returning them for accountability. It's good to address both the technical side and the human aspect.
One approach I've seen is to require temporary workers to leave an ID in exchange for the access card. It creates a sense of accountability since they need to return the card to get their ID back. Some companies even ask for a small deposit as an extra incentive to return the card.
That's a solid idea! A simple deposit can really encourage them to bring the cards back.
At a previous job, we had to log temporary card exchanges at the front desk. We would leave our driver's license as collateral. That way, there was good accountability, and people had a reason to return them.
Adding a step to your off-boarding process could be beneficial. If you make returning the card part of the exit procedure, it ensures that they remember to hand it over before they leave.
Just a heads up, I work in a psychiatric environment, so retractable items aren't an option due to safety concerns. But I like the idea of single-use cards!