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JP Morgan Chase has notified employees assigned to its new main office in Manhattan that they have to share their physical characteristics to access the multi-billion building.

Move from Discretionary to Compulsory

The banking corporation had previously envisioned for the enrollment of physical identifiers at its recently opened tower to be optional.

Yet, employees of the biggest American bank who have begun work at the main office since last month have received communications stating that physical scan entry was now "compulsory".

How Biometric Access Works

The new entry system requires personnel to provide their hand geometry to enter access portals in the main floor rather than scanning their access passes.

Office Complex Information

The corporate tower, which apparently required an investment of $3 billion to construct, will eventually function as a home for thousands of employees once it is fully occupied in the coming months.

Safety Justification

The financial company declined to comment but it is understood that the employment of biological markers for access is created to make the facility better protected.

Alternative Access Methods

There are special provisions for specific personnel who will continue to have the option to use a badge for admission, although the requirements for who will use more traditional ID access remains undefined.

Additional Technological Features

Complementing the deployment of physical identifier systems, the organization has also introduced the "Corporate Access" mobile app, which acts as a digital badge and center for staff resources.

The application enables staff to coordinate external entry, use interior guides of the facility and pre-order food from the building's 19 food service providers.

Security Context

The introduction of stricter access protocols comes as US corporations, notably those with significant operations in NYC, look to increase security following the incident of the CEO of one of the leading healthcare providers in summer.

The executive, the head of UnitedHealthcare, was fatally shot not far from JP Morgan's offices.

Additional Office Considerations

It is unclear if the financial firm plans to implement biometric access for employees at its branches in other major financial centres, such as the UK capital.

Employee Tracking Developments

The move comes within controversy over the implementation of digital tools to monitor employees by their employers, including monitoring office attendance levels.

Previously, all the bank's employees on mixed remote-office plans were instructed they have to report to the office on a daily basis.

Management Commentary

The organization's head, the financial executive, has described the company's recently opened 60-storey headquarters as a "beautiful physical manifestation" of the organization.

Dimon, one of the influential banking figures, this week warned that the chance of the financial markets experiencing a decline was far greater than many financiers believed.