Bell Fired Workers Who Faked Attendance — One Just Wanted to Use the Gym

Bell’s parent company BCE has fired a group of employees caught faking their office attendance records in what the company is calling a “swipe and go” scheme.

The details are pretty brazen. Workers would badge into the office and walk straight back out, logging their presence without actually showing up for work. One employee reportedly swiped in just before midnight and again shortly after, making it look like they had put in two full days at the office. Another came in exclusively to use the gym before heading home (sometimes you just can’t skip leg day).

BCE caught on during an internal review. Bell spokesperson Luc Levasseur confirmed to the Globe and Mail the employees were confronted with clear evidence and that most admitted they had done it deliberately. No unionized staff were involved, and the company was careful to note these terminations are separate from any broader layoffs.

Bell currently requires most corporate employees to be in the office three days a week. The firings land at a time when Canadian employers and the federal government are both pushing harder for a real return to the office.

There’s a reason why companies want employees to come back to the office. You actually know who’s there to do some work. The practice of “coffee badging” is showing up to work for coffee, then leaving to go work from home, is seemingly a major trend now according to employment law firm Tumarkin Samfiru LLP.

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bcr1010
bcr1010
1 month ago

Hmm maybe if they actually let them work from home they wouldn’t have to worry about this…

Melvin
Melvin
Reply to  bcr1010
1 month ago

They obviously did no work at home cuz they are lazy ,deceptive, and are stealing from their employer..getting money for nothing. Theft.

Ahouais38
Ahouais38
Reply to  Melvin
1 month ago

Yet somehow the world survived through the pandemic. Let that sink in

ItsMee
ItsMee
1 month ago

I support Bell in this decision. Anyone who disagrees has a mindset of a typical Trump supporter.

Zed Dulau
Zed Dulau
Reply to  ItsMee
1 month ago

The Olympic Gold for mental logic gymnastics right here! 😀

Ahouais38
Ahouais38
Reply to  ItsMee
1 month ago

I thought it was the other way around

Alex
Alex
1 month ago

Bell does even worse sh*** to their customers karma is b***ch they get what they deserve, doing sh*** to the others will screw you up likewise

LilyAnn
LilyAnn
1 month ago

This article is very one sided. I know someone inside and trust me, this is not the whole
story. The writer of this story needs to interview a few employees who got fired and get their side of the story. That’s true journalism.

JMcD
JMcD
1 month ago

Do the employer and employees in question have a contract which states that they are expected to be in the office and stay there during their work shift? If they do, and I would surmise that that is the case, then this is a non-issue.
If you enter into a contract, then you have an obligation to fulfil it. Be a man. Unless you’re a woman. Then be a woman. But honour your word.

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