Access Control
& Security Systems

"With greater security in the workplace, employees are more confident that their safety is a priority." So says Norman Heinle, president of Datamatics Management Services, Inc., a labor management technology company.

"While some industries and larger corporations have had security measures in place for decades -- and quasi-public entities like the Postal Service have had theirs criticized, it has become evident that the subject needs further examination. Protecting human assets has become much more important than guarding physical facilities," he adds.

While mid-sized businesses struggle to squeeze funds for something that was not a budgetary consideration previously, opportunities exist to take a few key steps that involve marginal costs.

Heinle, with over 30 years' experience in the labor management industry and former professor of management at Rutgers University, offers six tips:

* Consider background checks and specific selection criteria to help ensure only qualified, and responsible applicants are accepted.

* Know where your employees are, and when they are in the work facility.

* Explore various automated solutions to help monitor employee behavior for improved productivity and security in the workplace.

* Take measures to protect critical company and employee data, while limiting access to only those properly authorized.

* In addition to 'checking references,' research information from known third-party sources regarding industry standards and security benchmarks.

* Define a clear company policy for handling phone and e-mail inquiries, and general release of information.

This month in Access Control

• Targeting The Customer
• Electronic Pedigrees
• One Hero Among Many
• Who? What? When? Where? Why?
• More from September's issue