Wells Fargo & Co has fired more than a dozen employees for alleged bogus work. This decision follows an investigation by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, as reported by Bloomberg (thanks TheGuardian).

Allegations of keyboard activity simulation

The bank discovered that these employees were using devices such as mouse movers or mouse jigglers. These devices simulate keyboard activity to give the impression of active work. The exact location of these employees, whether they work from home or in the office, remains unclear.

A spokesperson for Wells Fargo stated, “Wells Fargo holds employees to the highest standards and does not tolerate unethical behavior.”

Adjustments to the working model after the pandemic

After the pandemic in 2022, Wells Fargo implemented a hybrid flexible model that required employees to return to the office. This approach is similar to that of other major banks. For example, Bank of America sent education letters to employees in January, warning of disciplinary action for not returning to the office. Goldman Sachs also required its employees to work in the office five days a week.

This incident underlines the challenges companies face in maintaining productivity and ethical standards in a hybrid work environment.