In response to a rash of robberies in nearby Marion, officials in Sherborn, MA have instituted a policy that requires all 55 city employees to wear ID badges.

These badges, which will include employee name, photo, job title and tax ID #, are intended to encourage trust between city employees and town residents. Officials were prompted to institute the new ID rule after a man in Marion, MA convinced residents he was the city’s building inspector, allowing him to enter and rob homes easily. The city councilor in charge of the proposal says that the ID badge program is an easy and inexpensive way to assure residents that city employees are in fact who they say they are. The ID card initiative is hoped to prevent problems like those in Marion from occurring. Employee ID Card Systems make it easy to print clear color photos to ensure people know the person wanting to enter the building is really cleared to do so.
In addition to being a safety measure, the ID cards are hoped to help reduce bureaucracy and paperwork in the purchasing process. The tax ID number printed on the card by the photo and employee name should help employees when making city purchases. Instead of having to fill out purchase orders, employees would have all the information they needed at their fingertips and could help make normal city processes more efficient.