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Wells Fargo Fires Staff Over Keyboard Sim Fiasco

Wells Fargo fired over a dozen employees last week for using keyboard-simulation software to appear busy and productive. Wells Fargo has a history of scandal and unethical behavior, so this incident further erodes trust in the corporation. It's another example of big business exploiting workers, this time by using surveillance software to monitor and control employees' every action. This story reveals a disturbing trend of corporate control and worker surveillance, with big businesses like Wells Fargo stopping at nothing to squeeze profit from their workers. The truth is that corporations will always prioritize profit over people.

Published June 17, 2024 at 8:03pm by Amaris Encinas

Wells Fargo Fires Over a Dozen Employees for 'Fake Working'

More than a dozen Wells Fargo employees were fired last month after an investigation revealed they were creating the appearance of being active by using keyboard activity simulation.

The Details:

13 Bloomberg, the employees worked in the wealth and investment management unit.
They were all "discharged" on May 8, 2023, following an internal investigation.
The method of keyboard simulation (external device or software) and the location of the employees are unclear.
"Wells Fargo holds employees to the highest standards and does not tolerate unethical behavior." - Laurie W. Kight, Company Spokesperson

Background:

Wells Fargo was one of the last financial institutions to bring employees back to the office post-COVID-19, adopting a hybrid flexible model in 2022.
Most employees are in the office 3 days a week, while management is in 4 days and many others, like branch workers, are in 5 days.

Spying on Employees:

Wells Fargo is not alone in monitoring employee productivity, a trend that has increased since the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) reports that "spying bosses" use software or devices to track "activity," including keystrokes and online behavior.
There is little legal recourse to stop this practice, and attempts at legislation like the "Stop Spying on Bosses Act" have stalled.
Employees have pushed back, using gadgets or software to imitate activity.