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In the pandemic year, several large employers have handed out bonuses to staff members to thank them for their continued hard work throughout this difficult time. Yet, a UK train operator has received criticism after it sent an email to workers promising a bonus to staff, which later turned out to be a cybersecurity test. According to the Guardian, West Midlands Trains emailed circa 2,500 staff members with a memo stating that the firm’s Managing Director, Julian Edwards, wanted to thank them for their hard work throughout the pandemic year. Read more How HR can bolster remote work cyber security The email went on to explain that they would get a one-off payment to thank them after “huge strain was placed upon a large number of our workforce”. Despite this, when staff clicked through to read the thank you note, they were reportedly met with a second email stating that it was a “phishing simulation test” and that there would be no bonus. The email reportedly said: “This was a test designed by our IT team to entice you to click the link and used both the promise of thanks and financial reward.” ‘Crass and reprehensible behaviour’ The news of
