Wells Fargo Fires Dozen Employees for Faking Work Activity

Wells Fargo recently terminated over a dozen employees accused of falsifying keyboard activity to create the illusion of working, according to a disclosure made to the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority and reported by Bloomberg. CNN confirmed the firings, which followed an investigation into allegations that some staff used methods to simulate active work.

During the pandemic, devices like mouse jigglers, which can be purchased online for around $20, became popular. These gadgets keep a computer screen active by moving the cursor randomly, helping employees appear busy while working remotely. Despite increased productivity reported by many remote workers, some companies adopted monitoring software, or “bossware,” to track employee activity.

A spokesperson for Wells Fargo did not provide additional details about the firings but emphasized that the company maintains high ethical standards and does not tolerate dishonest behaviour.

The firings have sparked criticism about the management culture at Wells Fargo. Ashley Herd, founder of the management training firm Manager Method, commented on the situation, saying, “The sad part is that employees feel the need to purchase and use a mouse jiggler. That’s a symptom of a much larger problem.”

Wells Fargo’s management mistrust is understandable given the bank’s troubled history. Since 2016, the bank has faced numerous civil and criminal charges related to a scheme where over 2 million fake accounts were opened without customer consent. This scandal led to significant financial settlements and penalties, including a three-year probation sentence for the former head of the retail operation and a ban from the industry for the former CEO.

The bank has since been working to reform its internal culture and rebuild its reputation. With around 200,000 employees, Wells Fargo has implemented strict controls on work-issued devices due to the highly regulated nature of the banking industry.

However, experts argue that firing employees over minor infractions like using mouse jigglers may not be the best approach to fostering trust and inclusivity. Herd noted, “Managers often assume the worst when they see someone’s away, and so they’re looking for any type of data to show that that’s true. So, team members are going to innovate around that.”