It can be tempting to take it easy when you’re working remotely. Especially since today there are gadgets that allow you to simulate an activity on a computer. This is the trick used by employees of a large bank.
Since the pandemic, teleworking has been on the rise in companies, to the delight of employees. This allows you to save precious time wasted on transport, to sleep a little longer in the morning, to work in an environment in which you feel good, to be able to organize your time more freely, to be able to work on the move. Yes, but some people abuse the freedom granted to them a little too much…
This is what happened at the American bank Wells Fargo, which fired a dozen employees accused of having deceived their managers into believing that they were working when that was not the case. the case.
We don’t necessarily think about it, but employers can keep an eye on teleworkers using tools such as email monitoring software, Internet browsing or even video surveillance systems, webcams equipped with eye tracking technologies or software that records keystrokes or mouse movements. Wells Fargo had such arrangements in place.
However, the procrastinators used a gadget simulating the use of the keyboard or mouse, which makes it appear that there is indeed activity, even in the absence of those concerned at their workstation. These devices often take the form of small USB keys or software to be installed on the computer. They are called “mouse jigglers” (“mouse shakers” in good French). They allow, as their name suggests, to make the mouse move randomly, and therefore to pretend to be present and active in front of the screen. You can easily find them on e-commerce sites for around ten euros. They have seen a resurgence in popularity thanks to Instagram, TikTok and YouTube.
Please note, in France, through its management power, the employer has the right to control and monitor the activity of employees during working time, provided that they respect their fundamental rights and their individual freedoms. He therefore has an obligation to inform them if he sets up systems of this type and to strive to respect their privacy as much as possible. No information concerning an employee personally can be collected by a device that has not previously been brought to their attention. According to a study dating from 2021, 63% of French companies with more than 500 employees plan or have already adopted tools of this type in order to strengthen the supervision of their employees in a teleworking situation. So beware!
