Last month, Wells Fargo terminated over a dozen bank employees following an investigation into claims of faking work activity on their computers, acco

“Simulation of keyboard activity” leads to firing of Wells Fargo employees

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2024-06-16 00:30:03

Last month, Wells Fargo terminated over a dozen bank employees following an investigation into claims of faking work activity on their computers, according to a Bloomberg report.

A Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) search conducted by Ars confirmed that the fired members of the firm's wealth and investment management division were "discharged after review of allegations involving simulation of keyboard activity creating impression of active work."

A rise in remote work during the COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the adoption of remote worker surveillance techniques, especially those using software installed on machines that keeps track of activity and reports back to corporate management. It's worth noting that the Bloomberg report says the FINRA filing does not specify whether the fired Wells Fargo employees were simulating activity at home or in an office.

The financial sector was among the first to call for a return to office work as the pandemic waned, with Wells Fargo adopting a "hybrid flexible model" in February 2022. Currently, most Wells Fargo employees are expected to work from the office at least three days a week, while members of the management committee are required to be present four days a week.