Workers

Axios - Wells Fargo's decision to fire more than a dozen employees for "simulation of keyboard activity" points to a simmering tension in the post-pandemic workplace. Major employers are using surveillance tools to ensure that no matter where people work, they're at their computers — but polls suggest doing so is risky for morale. Wells Fargo didn't say whether the employees — from the company's wealth- and investment-management unit — were working remotely, or how they were faking the "impression of active work," Bloomberg reports.  The prevalence of cheap tools like "mouse jigglers" to simulate activity suggests some of America's white-collar workers are skating by in the hybrid world — though the rise of remote work doesn't seem to have hurt productivity overall.

• But the use of surveillance tools poses a risk at a time when it's getting harder and harder to keep workers happy, Axios' Javier E. David notes.

Anxiety about losing your job to ChatGPT will only exacerbate the rift between workers and bosses that's been created by workplace surveillance and return-to-office policies, Axios' Megan Morrone writes.

Washington Times - The liberal activist group Southern Poverty Law Center, known for producing an annual list of so-called hate groups, is accused of retaliating against union workers who say they were fired by the center because of their organizing efforts.  The Southern Poverty Law Center Union said the SPLC is “hoarding” a $1 billion endowment and had no financial reason to cut staff. Yet the organization fired more than 60 workers last week — one-quarter of its workforce — according to public statements from the dismissed staff.

Gallup -  The percentage of engaged employees globally -- those who feel involved in and enthusiastic about their work -- remains at 23%, matching the record high recorded in 2022, according to Gallup’s State of the Global Workplace report. But most employees are not engaged (62%) -- those who show up, do the bare minimum and are uninspired by their work -- or actively disengaged (15%) -- those who have a bad manager and a miserable job and are actively seeking a new one.