By using a simple trick, keyboard activity can be simulated on the computer. This became the downfall of several Wells Fargo employees.
Last month, the US bank Wells Fargo fired more than a dozen employees for faking work, as reported by the news agency «Bloomberg». The bank communicated this step to the US regulatory authority, Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (Finra), in an official statement.
The employees had deceived their supervisors into thinking they were working when, in fact, they were not. The dismissals were carried out after it was discovered that they simulated keyboard activity to give the impression of active work. The bank stated that it holds its employees to «the highest standards» and will «not tolerate unethical behavior.»
Mostly New Hires
The affected employees appeared to work in the bank's investment and wealth management departments, according to the «Financial Times». Many of them were hired in the past two years, but at least one had been with the bank for over seven years.
No specific details were given on the methods used for the «simulation.» However, various software solutions can simulate keyboard inputs or mouse movements with a delay. It is also unknown whether the simulation was conducted on company computers or personal devices.
Return to Pre-Pandemic Rules
Finra recently reinstated the workplace rules that had been suspended during the pandemic, which also means stricter monitoring of the work environment for managers is required.
At the end of May, Barclays and Citigroup tightened their rules for working from home, requiring some employees to be in the office five days a week. The changes in Finra's regulations made it harder for them to allow remote work, they explained. Other banks have also tightened their policies on home or remote work.
Hybrid Work Models Established
In Swiss financial institutions, hybrid work models have generally been maintained after the pandemic. For full-time positions, there is often the option to work from home two days a week.
However, for security-sensitive functions or higher management levels, there are often greater restrictions, and some companies have limited the days employees can be away from the office. This is in response to the fact that many offices are notably empty, particularly on Mondays and Fridays.
