If you’re an employee that is required to wear and display a security badge, you know how time consuming and frustrating it can be to have to take it off and swipe it through a security device many times a day.  Not only can it waste an employee’s time, it can also cause a drop in morale due to the frustration it can cause.  Without a solution to this problem, security badges will lose favor with employees very quickly.

Luckily, there is a solution to most of the problems that a security swipe badge presents.  It comes in the form of a retractable plastic badge holder.  These holders can either be clipped or pinned to a clothing item or they may be attached to a lanyard, an item that is worn around the neck.  The retractable badge holder has a reel in which cord, or string, is stored.  This cord is attached to the security badge and when not in use, sits near the clip which is attached to clothing or a lanyard.

When a security swipe is required, the user simply has to pull the badge away from the reel and swipe the card.  With the cord attached both to the badge card and the reel, the badge is secure at all times.  When finished, the user simply lets go of the security badge and the cord will retract back into the reel.  The security badge then returns to its original position without the need to unclip and clip the security badge back into place.

When purchasing a retractable badge holder, you’ll want to make sure that the reel cord is strong.  You don’t want to lose your security badge due to a weak, or easily broken, cord reel.  Not only could a lost badge be a major security concern, the replacement cost for a badge is usually pretty high and is often paid by the employee.

You can find retractable badge holders in stores or online.  When shopping online, you’re likely to find cheap prices and better selection for holders.  Stores tend to be a little more expensive and won’t have quite the selection that online retailers have.