The major US bank Wells Fargo has fired dozens of employees who apparently only faked working from home. Those affected are said to have used, among other things, so-called mouse movers to simulate activities on the computer.
In the USA, dozens of bank employees were fired for pretending to work from home. That comes from one report the news agency Bloomberg out. Accordingly, those affected apparently used tools such as so-called mouse movers to simulate keyboard entries and mouse movements on the computer.
Mouse Movers: Employees simulate mouse movements – and are fired
The case became public because the major US bank Wells Fargo made a corresponding report
to the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FIRA). According to reports, the affected employees all worked in the bank’s investment and asset management departments.
Most of them had only been employed at the bank for two years. A company spokesperson told Bloomberg: “Wells Fargo holds its employees to the highest standards and does not tolerate unethical behavior.”
It is not clear from the FIRA documents how exactly the employees simulated their work. However, the bank’s employees are generally required to be present in the office at least three days a week. Since the bank apparently decided to use software to control working hours in the home office, those affected apparently tried to circumvent it.
Pretending to work from home
Many companies in the USA rely on automated software systems to record the computer activity of their employees while working from home. However, such systems can be circumvented. For example, there are mechanical devices that move the computer mouse without human intervention.
Specially developed software tools can also simulate mouse and keyboard movements or even simulate the sending of emails. However, this apparently only allows relatively simple surveillance systems to be outsmarted – as the Wells Fargo case shows.
Such programs are booming, especially in the USA. This applies to both monitoring software and tools designed to circumvent it. Within the EU, the legal situation regarding the use of such programs is more strictly regulated.
Also interesting:
- In conversation: Use these 2 tricks to make yourself heard
- Quiet Vacation: How Millennials Vacation Without Taking Vacation Days
- Interview: Apple tests applicants with these 5 interview questions
- These are the 10 best employers for women in Germany
The article Simulated mouse movements: dismissal for pretending to work in the home office by Fabian Peters first appeared on BASIC thinking. Follow us too Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.