TEMPE, Ariz. — A Wells Fargo employee in Tempe was found dead at her desk four days after she clocked in. The Wells Fargo Workers United-CWA said her death is "the most tragic example" of their employer's lack of transparency.
The union released a letter in response to the death of Denise Prudhomme, a Wells Fargo Business Execution Consultant based in Tempe, who died on Aug. 20. She had clocked into work four days earlier.
"We are saddened and outraged by the devastating tragedy and loss of our coworker," the letter said. "This tragedy reminds us why it is so important for us to have a true voice and exercise our rights at work."
Tempe police confirmed with 12News that on Monday, Aug. 16, 60-year-old Denise Prudhomme scanned into work at the building at 7 a.m. On Tuesday, Aug. 20, building security called authorities after finding an unresponsive worker. Officers arrived and confirmed that Prudhomme was dead.
VERSIÓN EN ESPAÑOL: Empleados están preocupados luego de que una mujer fuera encontrada muerta en su escritorio en las oficinas de Wells Fargo en Tempe
Several sources who work in the building have spoken with 12News on the condition of anonymity due to the fear of retaliation. Those employees said that Prudhomme was found on the third floor, in a "remote" part of the building.
Sources told 12News several employees worked in a remote setting and it is not known how many people were on the third floor in the days after her death. After the weekend, however, people in the building started to notice an odor.
A cause of death is still pending, according to the Tempe Police Department.
A Wells Fargo spokesperson released the following statement to 12News about the incident:
“We are deeply saddened by the loss of our colleague, Denise Prudhomme. Our thoughts are with her family and loved ones, and we are in contact to ensure they are well supported during this difficult time. We are committed to the safety and wellness of our workforce. Counselors are available to support any employees impacted by this event."
The Wells Fargo union said their "every move and keystroke" is monitored electronically by their employer, but many team members and direct supervisors are not located in the same state.
"Wells Fargo monitors our every move and keystroke using remote, electronic technologies - purportedly to evaluate our productivity - and will fire us if we are caught not making enough keystrokes on our computers; however, Denise went unnoticed at her desk for four days," the letter stated. "The contradictory nature of electronic surveillance versus an unnoticed death sheds light on the reality of what it means to be a worker at Wells Fargo."
The letter also claims Wells Fargo is arbitrarily forcing their employees to go back to the office, even if they had been working remotely before the COVID-19 pandemic, and even if they are the only person on their team in their location.
"We demand Wells Fargo reevaluate its arbitrary 'hub city”' relocation plan and 'return to office' policy," the letter said. "These plans and policies have only further damaged employee morale."
The letter from the union demands better transparency and safety precautions from Wells Fargo, particularly safety precautions that are "not punitive or cause further stress" for workers.
"Not notifying employees of a coworker’s death for days is just the most tragic example of our employer’s lack of transparency," the letter said. "The solution is not more monitoring, but ensuring that we are all connected to a supportive work environment instead of warehoused away in a back office."
However, a spokesperson from Wells Fargo said Wells Fargo needed to notify Prudhomme's next of kin before the organization could communicate the information to employees, not because of a lack of transparency.
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