Ernst & Young's (EY) Ignite Learning Week in May offered employees at the strategy and consulting firm a chance to improve by taking online courses such as “Conversing with AI, One Request at a Time” and “How How strong is your digital brand in the marketplace?”

However, a report from Financial Times revealed an unexpected consequence of the week: dismissal for “cheating”. EY staff who practically attended more than one course at the same time were let go.

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EY requires staff to complete 40 educational credits per year, and the classes went to that total. The firm said dozens of employees were caught taking multiple courses simultaneously.

For employees, the firing is said to have come as a shock, given the overall culture at EY.

Some told the FT they have seen other staff doing things like taking two customer calls at the same time. To them, the company has “a culture of multitasking,” complete with three monitors per person.

According to Glass doorthe average base salary at EY in New York City is $105,000 per year, with an average annual bonus of $10,000.

Fraud is a sensitive issue for EY. In 2022, the firm had to pay a fine of 100 million dollars the greatest ever fine imposed on a company of its kind after the Securities and Exchange Commission found that its employees cheated on professional exams and education courses.

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EY joins Meta in firing employees who misuse benefits. Last week, Meta reportedly let go about two dozen employees who used one $25 Dinner Coupon for items other than dinner over an extended period of time.

EY has almost 400 thousand employees globally.