Do UN employees have to go through security too?

I am only 90% certain, but they do not go through security beyond walking by a desk where someone sits to look at ID's.

Back when I was at the BBC we had fobs to get us through turnstyles by the security desk.

One question - which might or might not help - are you referring to permanent employees or contractors? Not sure about the UN, but in government offices I've worked in (including for MPs), the temporary IDs issued, along with a sign-in sheet, are ones that in theory could be passed on to anyone else...

I don't have anything UN-specific though.

I do a lot of work in court that has the same type of security measures, metal detectors, search the bags ect, and everyone has to go through, including the attorneys who work there all day. Even the cops have to go through, though they set off the alarm every time (obviously) and get waved through.

When I worked for the government we had key cards that let us into the building, and the rooms we were allowed to be in, but in those buildings there was no big security the public had to go through. They went through the public door which only opened into a lobby, they'd sign in and then someone would be called to escort them.

I would imagine with the UN there may be a difference between someone who works there 40 hours/week and others who work there on a more incremental basis, but I would bet that everyone goes through security regardless of whether you are an employee or not.

Good luck!

errantruth said:

Thank you all for your insight.

Yes, I'm speaking of permanent employees, of relatively high (yet not highest) rank. And in the UN you'd really be looking at quite a few people of that level.

It's sounding like we all think they have some security protocol, but the extent of it is still not 100% clear.

Thank you all so much for taking the time to share your experiences. I may suck it up and head there and see if a security guard feels like letting me know (right before escorting me from the premises)...

Thanks again!

Click to expand...

Since you claim to be in that town, you might just go up therre and ask. They won't give much detail, but they probably will give generalities.

I can't speak to the UN, but I worked for the US Department of Defense for a while and everyone had to go through security. Badges, metal detectors, gates, etc. No exceptions. And if you forgot your microchip-embedded ID badge? *shudders*

It makes sense that there would be something. Then again, it isn't any country's official agency so maybe they're more selective?

When I worked in government here we all had to go through security when going to certain buildings - our bags and files and all our keys, phones etc were xrayed and searched had to walk though metal detectors. We also had to have our own security passes on us and these were exchanged in security for a new pass which we could only use in the building and we had to sign for it and sign it back in again when we were leaving and collecting our own pass back again.

Don't know how much help that is

I wasn't UN, but we didn't have a separate entrance. We used the same one the public used, although when we surrendered our usual security passes and were given building specific ones, we were able to access areas that the public weren't able to.

Some buildings aren't open to the public here though.

errantruth said:

Hi Shaldna,

Did you have a separate line, though, or get to skip to the front? I imagine the UN has more visitors which is why I was thinking surely employees would enter separately. I know with the courts here in NYC, prospective jurors and the public wait in long lines, but those who work in the courthouses pass through a separate (nearby) entrance...

Click to expand...

No. For security reasons we had one way in and out. Everyone used that door. Although to note - in most cases the buildings are only open to the public during certain hours - usually so they don't correspond with the morning / evening start and finish times or shift changes. But again, I'm not sure what UN buildings etc are like, I'm only talking from my own experience.

Our courts are also much smaller - some of the NI courtrooms are just halls or hired rooms. There's one that's just a room over a butchers shop. Here a courtroom can be wherever needs to be a courtroom at the time.

I know that the court in our town everyone goes in through the same door, it's a pretty big court that serves most of the county.

Don't know what your story needs, but if you're going to go up and ask questions, you might ask what they do with suppliers: food, office and cleaning supplies, etc. Somewhere there is a service/truck entrance. My employers go through paper (writing and toilet) by the pallet-loads, I can only imagine how much the U.N. would need.
I don't imagine U.N. security is casual about big boxes being hauled into the building.

Has nothing to do with your question, but I've had jury duty a few times. Every time, as I go through the scanner and have my pocketbook searched, the lawyers and other personnel at the courthouse walk right past me. Through a doorway with no scanner. Waving at the security guards. Sharing a casual chit-chat, sometimes, like, 'how's the kids?'

I suppose we must trust lawyers and those who work at the courthouse but they're often carrying briefcases, laptop cases, etc.

Makes me wonder ...

@errantruth, will you report your finding? I have no idea but am interested to know as well.