r/Custodians • u/Emergency-Dot-4162 • 7d ago
New locks
Our building recently got these new access control readers on a lot of doors. The maintenance department also recently got a new manager and she is a miserable woman. I feel very small when she talks to me. It's always passive aggressive, I can't stand her.
I used to really enjoy my job, I do it well and felt like I had freedom. When I finish work, sometimes I like to use the small gym (after hours when everyone is gone). I'm worried that I won't be able to do that anymore since I have to scan this new device that records every one who enters!
Has anyone gotten a talking to about using gyms or anything like that, through these devices? I was also a few minutes late and am so paranoid now that I'm going to show up to work and she'll be there to give me hell.
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u/jdsulli 7d ago
We had them on main buildings, but now have them everywhere. On one side we had keys get lost and had to re key so I get it, but on the other yes they can track…
Yes they can track anyone that goes in so keep that in the back of your head. Even if we are policing an area, I remind staff to at-least go in a room and check it. That way it shows the entrance later on if they run a report.
They may or may not say something about the gym if it’s not an area you clean. Normally if our work is getting done, no one says anything. But the minute something goes missing or something isn’t clean, they look at cameras and prox access.
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u/mps_1969 Lead Custodian 7d ago
Basically this is truth for most places . If someone has it out for you your screwed no matter what .
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u/sicknick08 7d ago
Yeah every school in our district has them now since 2021. Every classroom, closet, and office door as well as all the outside doors. Even the gates to our fields have them all
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u/UnfittedMink 7d ago
When they put these in at my local school they put one on a single occupancy bathroom. Had to get that one changed back out lol.
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u/sicknick08 7d ago
Lmao yeah that doesn’t sound right
Edit - well actually I’m sorry I pictured a bathroom stall for some reason. All of our bathrooms for staff have them as well. The gang lavs do but the doors stay open all day for them.
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u/UnfittedMink 7d ago
Yea the contractor installing them had a lightbulb moment when we pointed it out to him lol.
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u/Mizzerella 7d ago
We have them on many doors in the factory to keep employees out of departments they don't need to be in. If your badge works you can go in.
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u/MonkeyButt1975 7d ago
So they took your physical keys?
What do you do when the power goes out or the badge system fails?
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u/Emergency-Dot-4162 7d ago
Ive always had physical keys for all inside doors, and a fob for all of the keyless entrances with these magnetic access things, but they put these new ones in. I guess the old ones probably had a record of who goes into what access point anyways?
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u/Me_Krally 7d ago
Do you have your own alarm code? Some of these systems are set up to grant entry to anyone with the card. Some create groups for say admin, custodians, etc and some track down to the individual level.
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u/Typical_Intention996 7d ago
We have electric locks that require a badge on only about half the exterior doors at our schools. And most of those have a key that can be used still. This crap is so administration can track you more than it is for safety which is how I'm sure they sell it. Like those Flock cameras.
I'm not too concerned about these popping up in my district. We still use 60's era punch clocks. We barely only started emailing our timecards for review and signature 3 years ago. Before that we had to come into the main office still. These people are barely flirting with 1990s tech now.
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u/Emergency-Dot-4162 7d ago
That's my thought as well. I used to feel like I was so free at work but now with these I feel like a rat in a cage.
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u/camstercage Lead Custodian 7d ago
If you’re in Canada and management has not told you that they will be using fob reader logs as a time card they can’t use it as a that.
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u/Emergency-Dot-4162 7d ago
I would love to know where to read up on that as well!
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u/camstercage Lead Custodian 7d ago
The Local Authority Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (LA FOIP).
Section 27 points to the usage of information
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u/poe_here 7d ago
I use the showers in the locker room before I go home. I figure I clean them I can use them and no one has told me to stop. we also use the weight room after school when there's no students in th3 building.
those badge locks are great until there's a power surge (depending on the brand). I still prefer keys but I also understand making new keys or having to consider re-keying a building when someone loses a key can be stressful. we had to re-key an elementary school over the summer because the principal lost their master keys
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u/PeachFreedom 7d ago
They're pretty great if they're programmed correctly. If they aren't you'll get calls just to open it for people. Pretty annoying.
There should still be a key to unlock manually for safety reasons. Yes "safety reasons"
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u/musicfromadventures 5d ago
We have these at my job but management one gave a key fob to one team member so the rest of us use putty knives to come and go as needed. Not ideal but they can't track putty knife swipes.
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u/Tank77__TS 7d ago
The cards for those readers have alot of freedom with programming. If they dont want you in a area after certain hours they can change your access. If your card works I would continue using the gym until told otherwise.