Wells Fargo employee’s death exposes remote work safety risks

ARIZONA, UNITED STATES — The tragic discovery of a Wells Fargo employee who died at her desk and went unnoticed for four days has sparked a crucial conversation about workplace safety in the era of hybrid and remote work.
Denise Prudhomme, an employee at a Wells Fargo branch in Tempe, Arizona, passed away in her cubicle on Friday, August 16, but her body was not found until the following Tuesday when a security guard investigated complaints of a foul odor.
Hybrid work model implications
Wells Fargo expressed their condolences in a statement: “We are deeply saddened by the loss of our colleague, Denise Prudhomme. We are committed to the safety and wellness of our workforce.”
While authorities suspect no foul play, the incident has raised serious questions about the potential pitfalls of flexible work arrangements.
The tragedy occurred on a Friday, typically a day when many hybrid workers opt to work from home. This unfortunate timing, combined with the weekend, contributed to the delay in discovering Prudhomme’s passing.
“This is unbelievably tragic. It speaks to a broader transformation; when hybrid work was less prevalent, we used to see our colleagues in the office every day. This enabled us to see really clearly if something was wrong, if somebody wasn’t there, if they were acting differently,” Emily Rosado-Solomon, assistant professor of management at Babson College, told Fortune.
“Now that we are in a world of increasingly hybrid and remote work, we don’t see people in front of us. I don’t think the workplace has caught up to the types of communication and support that is required in a remote and hybrid workplace.”
The shift to hybrid and remote work has fundamentally changed workplace dynamics. According to recent statistics, about 35% of U.S. workers performed all or some of their work from home in 2023. This trend has led to a decrease in daily face-to-face interactions, which were once crucial for monitoring colleagues’ well-being.
The responsibility of leadership
The incident at Wells Fargo has sparked a discussion about employers’ responsibilities for monitoring and ensuring the well-being of their employees, particularly in less structured work environments.
Susan Stehlik, a clinical professor of management at NYU Stern, emphasized the crucial role of managers, “As a manager, you should know your people. If you really know your staff, you know when somebody’s in trouble.”
Yet, according to a 2024 Gallup report, 70% of managers report a lack of formal training in leading hybrid teams. This clearly shows a gap in preparedness that can hinder effective leadership and oversight.
Balancing safety and privacy
Tanya Moore, chief people officer of West Monroe, noted, “There was more ability to be around and notice. Whereas when you’re at home working, it’s just harder to notice.”
Some experts suggest implementing buddy systems or regular check-ins for remote workers. However, overzealous monitoring can lead to privacy concerns and undermine trust.
As Rosado-Solomon cautioned, “Some companies have gone to the extreme with things like tracking their employees’ keystrokes. That undermines trust. It doesn’t convey a sense of caring or well-being.”
This tragic event serves as a wake-up call for organizations to develop new protocols that ensure employee well-being while respecting individual privacy in the age of flexible work arrangements.