Arizona
A Wells Fargo employee was found dead at her desk four days after she had punched in. No one noticed that she had been missing or hadn't punched out. Other employees noticed a foul smell in the area but thought it was probably from the faulty plumbing.
The case has shocked everyone and people are questioning how an employee died at work without anyone coming to know about it. Social media is flooded with comments from people calling out the company for not knowing about it.
Denise Prudhomme, a sixty-year-old, worked at the American financial services's corporate office in Tempe, Arizona. She clocked in at 7 am on August 16, Friday. On Tuesday, August 20, she was found in her cubicle at 4:55 pm by the police and was pronounced dead.
The preliminary investigation did not indicate any foul play. According to a USA Today report, the company stated that since the employee’s desk was located in a very “underpopulated area,” she went unnoticed during the weekend.
The Tempe police received a call from the Wells Fargo office in the 1100 block of West Washington Street. The security staff suspected a dead employee and made the call.
The cause of her death is not known yet but the police do not suspect any foul play.
Angry reactions to Wells Fargo employee's death
Social media is flooded with angry reactions from people who are hurt to see that the company didn't notice that an employee was missing for four whole days. Some people said that big corporations “don’t give a damn” about employees.
? A Wells Fargo employee went to work on a Friday morning, apparently died at her desk, and no one noticed until close of business on Tuesday. The bank was open at least three of the days. That's just beyond sad. pic.twitter.com/3uMdJLtczE
— Ik Reads the News (@RnbwMelodiesMom) August 30, 2024
Dear @WellsFargo , how does THIS happen? pic.twitter.com/WV048TFiRD
— Greta Van Susteren (@greta) August 31, 2024
How would anyone not check on them or wonder what the smell is coming from
— average joe (@William01286101) September 1, 2024
Bankster is too busy counting coins to notice?
— SupraD2jz (@SupraDslc) August 30, 2024
As a Banker, closing a bank is a team effort-- a lotta dual-control type stuff. Also, the team leaves together after-- and this is important-- the entire branch is checked. How the Christ did this happen?
— Daniel Ryan (@DanielRyan16) August 29, 2024
This is how corporations see their workers :/ pic.twitter.com/NQsfDhUpng
— ??FlambaySashayAway?? (@Wrath0fJello) August 29, 2024
This happens everyday in America. Not the death part, I'm talking about no one visiting workers at their desk for days. And a majority of the those worker's bosses are opposed to telework, because they claim it's unproductive. <- Fact.
— Moose (@DamonGi98438880) August 30, 2024
Others questioned why her colleagues didn't drop in to say "Hi" or "Goodbye" to her on Monday or Friday.
How did no one notice a dead employee for 4 days?
The company says that Prudhomme's cubicle is located in a very “underpopulated area", which is why no one noticed her at her desk. Her cubicle is on the third floor of the building and far away from the main aisle.
The company released a statement saying, “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."
It is reportedly providing counselling to everyone affected by the incident. It is also reviewing its internal procedures.
The incident shook the staff at the company and people were visibly disturbed to know that a co-worker died at work and no one noticed. According to a report by KPXN, most of the people are the company work remotely. Those who were physically present reported a foul odour which got worse.