[chihuahua]

Amazon is pretty serious about physical access security. Even back in 2002, you had to scan your badge while a security guard watches, to check if you are the same person as the badge picture.

The same guard also checked if your dog was registered (I think my dog got a badge with his picture, although I think that was just for fun, and not functional)

And no easy ability to enter through side doors - you couldn't open a side door with your badge. At the time, you could still lurk outside a side door until someone else opens the door to exit. Eventually (11 years later) they locked all the side doors because they noticed people doing this sort of thing.

More recently, I think you have to scan your badge to leave so they can even track how long you're in the building, and know when you're supposed to work on site but you were there only long enough to have a coffee and then went home to continue working from home. This last part is second-hand knowledge since I haven't work there in a long time.

[dheera]

I won't miss the days I had to take a full day of meetings from my car in the Amazon parking lot because there weren't enough meeting rooms onsite, but the badge swipes at the main entrance in-between meetings were needed to not be labeled as an "inconsistent badger".

It was laughable how much effort and money Amazon invested into badge tracking and enforcement instead of directing funds at making the office a nice place that people would want to spend time in and an efficient place to get work done.

[Gigachad]

All stick and no carrot. These companies would have to spend so much less effort dragging people in to the office if they just made the office a good place to work.

[xvedejas]

> they locked all the side doors

And this didn't get them in trouble with the fire marshal?

[amethyst]

If it's anything like Facebook, the side entrances (which always had guards sitting by them anyways) were all converted to alarmed fire exits. So the fire marshal would still be happy, but it was far less convenient for employees.

[SAI_Peregrinus]

Instead of locking they could alarm when opened. Slap a big "Emergency exit only, alarm will sound" sticker on it & link it into the pull alarm system. Treat opening the door without an emergency the same as pulling a fire alarm without an emergency.

[malfist]

Amazon employees can just use all the ...water... bottles they keep around their workstation to put out the fires.

[russdill]

Unmonitored entraces/exits at Texas Instruments had turnstyles or airlock style doors.