Goldman Sachs Junior Bankers Express Distaste Of Firm’s Return To Five-Day Work Weeks

Goldman Sachs is facing criticism from junior bankers over its return to pre-pandemic norms. 

According to some junior bankers at the firm, they are being “bullied” into coming into the office five days a week. Plus, the issue with the financial industry’s infamous long work weeks have started bubbling to the surface. 

“In [Goldman Sachs], the top management says it’s employees choice but internally they track which team has most in office attendance,” said one Goldman employee on anonymous corporate message board Blind. 

Another employee added that managers are tracking attendance and making lists of those who have low attendance rates. 

It’s no secret that Goldman Sachs has been hesitant to embrace any type of flexibility or remote work. Last year, CEO David Solomon called remote work an “aberration.” 

This distaste has led some staffers to look into leaving the firm for other companies that offer better pay and benefits, such as flexibility. 

However, not all banking companies are taking such an approach. JPMorgan recently revealed it would offer hybrid arrangements to some employees and allow many others to work from home at least one day a week. Still, employees have made it clear they want more. 

Despite many of these employees receiving historic-high bonuses, junior bankers have been adamant about their desire for more remote working abilities. 

“Yeah… I’m working remote until I get fired,” one JPMorgan worker said.