1: HR represents the company, not the employees, despite the misnomer "Human resources". They are NEVER your friend.
2: Why were you outside? Were you on the clocks? Were you on an approved scheduled smoke break? On a smoke break that you can take whenever you feel like it as long as the work gets done?
3: Is this the only door? Is it a short cut?
4: Is there a receptionist, phone, or doorbell so fedex and visitors can get in? Can you call your supervisor if you get locked out?
5: Why did the coworker need to talk to HR? Maybe they're fired or about to get fired, or in a fight over something.
I have worked places with fobs and badges. Most of the doors are the same-- there's a kick panel inside that opens a mechanical latch, and there's a solenoid in the frame that retracts part of the frame around the latch so the door can be pulled open from the outside. These do jam and malfunction-- they're mechancial, after all. But the actuator has a red/green LED that verifies good/bad badging.
As for signing something, he's probably screwed either way. He should offer to take the letter to his off-campus lawyer. They'll probably say he can't leave with it. Then he should say he doesn't feel comfortable signing it. He'll probably get fired either way. IANAL.
2: Why were you outside? Were you on the clocks? Were you on an approved scheduled smoke break? On a smoke break that you can take whenever you feel like it as long as the work gets done?
3: Is this the only door? Is it a short cut?
4: Is there a receptionist, phone, or doorbell so fedex and visitors can get in? Can you call your supervisor if you get locked out?
5: Why did the coworker need to talk to HR? Maybe they're fired or about to get fired, or in a fight over something.
I have worked places with fobs and badges. Most of the doors are the same-- there's a kick panel inside that opens a mechanical latch, and there's a solenoid in the frame that retracts part of the frame around the latch so the door can be pulled open from the outside. These do jam and malfunction-- they're mechancial, after all. But the actuator has a red/green LED that verifies good/bad badging.
As for signing something, he's probably screwed either way. He should offer to take the letter to his off-campus lawyer. They'll probably say he can't leave with it. Then he should say he doesn't feel comfortable signing it. He'll probably get fired either way. IANAL.