During the pandemic era, remote work has become more prevalent and with it, the use of “mouse movers” or “mouse jigglers.” These devices and software are designed to imitate employee activity to give the appearance of productivity. Recently, Bloomberg reported that Wells Fargo & Co. fired over a dozen employees after allegations of faking work were investigated. The employees, part of the wealth- and investment-management unit, were discharged for simulating keyboard activity to create the impression of active work.
Wells Fargo spokesperson stated that the company upholds high ethical standards and does not tolerate unethical behavior. Although specific details about the employees’ actions were not disclosed in Finra filings, using “mouse mover” technology has become a growing trend among remote workers. These devices can autonomously move a computer’s cursor or trigger keyboard inputs to show activity without human intervention.
Employees have been sharing tips on social media platforms like Reddit and TikTok on how to use these devices effectively. The devices are readily available on online retail platforms like Amazon at affordable prices. Many companies have resorted to using software to monitor employee activity to ensure productivity while working remotely. As remote work continues post-pandemic, monitoring tools have become more sophisticated in detecting patterns even in seemingly random behavior.
This incident is not the first time Wells Fargo has dealt with unethical behavior among its employees. In 2018, the company investigated employees in its investment bank for violating the expense policy by trying to have the company pay for ineligible evening meals. Despite this incident, Wells Fargo remains committed to maintaining high ethical standards among its workforce, especially during remote working conditions.