--- title: "Major Bank Fires Employees for Pretending to Work via “Simulation of Keyboard Activity”" description: "Wigglewigglewiggle Unfortunately for a dozen or so now-former Wells Fargo employees, the future of work is not mouse-jigglers. Last week, a Bloomberg report revealed that the American banking institution Wells Fargo had fired more than a dozen staffers after discovering that they were using mouse jigglers, or devices that jiggle your computer's mouse to make it look […]" date: "2024-06-18" modified: "2024-06-18" authors: - name: "Maggie Harrison Dupré" job_title: "Senior Staff Writer" link: "https://futurism.com/authors/mharrison" url: "https://futurism.com/the-byte/bank-fires-employees-simulation-keyboard-activity" categories: - "Future Society" tags: - "banks" - "future of work" - "remote work" - "the digest" --- # Major Bank Fires Employees for Pretending to Work via “Simulation of Keyboard Activity” ![Unfortunately for a dozen or so now-former Wells Fargo employees, the future of work is not mouse jiggling devices.]() *\Image: Getty / Futurism\* ## Keyed Up Unfortunately for a dozen or so now-former big bank employees, the future of work is *not* a clever hack that makes it look like you're working even when you're not. Last week, [*Bloomberg* reported]() that the American banking institution Wells Fargo had fired more than a dozen staffers after discovering that they were using some sort of clever automated trick to register keyboard inputs to make it look like they were hard at work on their computers*.* Though it's unclear what specific titles the since-fired staffers held, the bank did confirm to *Bloomberg* that they worked at the company's "wealth- and investment-management unit." Per Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) documents reviewed by *Bloomberg*, these folks were "discharged after review of allegations involving simulation of keyboard activity creating impression of active work." "Wells Fargo holds employees to the highest standards," a spokesperson for the bank told *Bloomberg*, "and does not tolerate unethical behavior." As much as we hate to agree with a major bank: yeah, pretending to work isn't exactly great (though if this were a long-term bit of performance art as criticism of productivity demands, corporate-overhiring, and the five-day workweek, we could be convinced otherwise.) Though the scandal definitely makes you wonder: *what* do Wells Fargo employees — at least the ones in its wealth and investment management sector — even do all day? ## Bank Nugs As [*The Verge* notes](), devices for jigging your computer's mouse blew up during the pandemic, when scores of previously non-remote employees suddenly found themselves working from home. Though it certainly wasn't the case for every laptop worker out there, many of these newly-remote workers in this sudden, pandemic-driven shift suddenly found themselves with a lot more time on their hands than they previously did while in office. Thus, various mouse-wiggling tools emerged as a means for some of these folks to make sure it looked like they were working full days. Years on, it seems that this philosophy was until very recently — and perhaps still is! — present at Wells Fargo, in what feels like a clear sign that some corporate bodies are *still* struggling with workforce size and management in a still-evolving post-pandemic world. Again, it's unclear what the bank was actually asking of its departed wealth and investment management staffers. But it does look like Wells Fargo is [currently hunting]() for a new wealth and investment employee able to "manage and develop a team focused on core financial processes, including budgeting, forecasting, financial and metric reporting, and operating and strategic reviews." Nothing a little mouse-wiggling can't accomplish, apparently! **More on the future of work:** [*Boss Says He Doesn't Care at All If Employees Do Drugs at Work*]() ## Author At Futurism, I've reported extensively on the rise of AI as a cultural and business force shaping the media industry, and more broadly how those dynamics are changing how we all consume and share information and relate to one another. I'm also fascinated by public health policy and ethics, the role of emerging tech in politics and governance — and the powerful people and forces at those intersections — climate change, and the environment. My investigation on Sports Illustrated's use of AI-generated authors with fictional biographies won a 2024 Mirror Award for "Best Story on Media Coverage of Artificial Intelligence in Journalism and the Media" from Syracuse University's SI Newhouse School, I contributed to Niemen Lab's 2025 Predictions for Journalism series, and I've discussed my work for Futurism during appearances on NPR, CNN, the BBC, the CBC, and more. I grew up in rural Pennsylvania and attended the University of Massachusetts Amherst, where I played Division I field hockey for the Minutewomen as a midfielder. Since then, I've lived in New Orleans, Louisiana and Manhattan, New York. I spend my free time running, reading, perusing archival fashion, and searching for the world’s best negroni. I also have a debonair tuxedo cat, Westley, who's named after "The Princess Bride." ### Author social links [Bluesky]()