I worked for a large consulting company until recently. The SET code provided very good rates. I was asked several times for my employee ID (and could not be a contractor). At one hotel we had a company event and two of the people who were with us did not have their badges and/or business cards - they had to pay a higher rate.

As far as govt ID I know that if you book on that rate they are rather "strict" about it only because the rate is so low.