Last month, Wells Fargo reportedly fired over a dozen employees for using devices or apps to fake productivity on their computers. These employees were part of the “wealth- and investment-management unit,” and it’s unclear whether they were caught using these tools while working remotely. The use of such tools, known as “mouse movers” or “mouse jigglers,” has become more common during the pandemic as many employees shifted to remote work without direct supervision.
These devices and apps can simulate mouse movements and keyboard entries without human intervention, allowing employees to appear active when they are not actually working. To combat this, many companies use software to monitor these inputs and ensure that remote workers are truly engaged and productive. As remote work becomes more prevalent, these monitoring tools are becoming more advanced and can now detect patterns that indicate the use of a “mouse jiggler.”
This ongoing battle between employees using “mouse jigglers” and companies trying to detect them is likely to continue evolving. Instead of focusing on catching employees using these tools, companies should consider redefining how they measure productivity for remote workers. As the remote work trend continues to grow, it’s important for companies to find more effective ways to evaluate and support their employees working outside the traditional office setting.