Fidelity fires more than 200 over alleged misuse of reimbursement programs - WSJ

(Reuters) - Fidelity Investments has fired or allowed more than 200 employees to resign over alleged misuse of workplace-benefit programs, the Wall Street Journal reported on Friday, citing people familiar with the matter. A company audit of computer-buying and physical-fitness benefit programs over the last year found misuse in offices across the country, the Journal reported.

A person familiar with the situation confirmed to Reuters that some Fidelity employees had misused the company's reimbursement benefits but did not say how many employees were involved.

Fidelity reviewed the alleged violations, and terminated the employees it found to have misused the benefits, the person added.

The company reimbursed staff for as much as 20 percent of the cost of computers and related equipment and in some cases, employees collected the company's reimbursement for equipments that they canceled after purchase, according to the person.

"And with regard to the computer issue, there was no customer involvement and no customer impact. However, in the very small percentage of instances where we identify misconduct, we take appropriate action," Fidelity said in an emailed statement to Reuters.

(Reporting by Diptendu Lahiri and Tim McLaughlin; Editing by Sandra Maler)