BofA Associate Death: More Reason to Unionize
1 year ago I made a post on a throwaway talking about the possibility and feasibility of unionizing. I was given MS and laughed at, but I feel now more than ever it is relevant. When will we stand up to these DEADLY working conditions ? My posts requests are very ambitious I know but eventually we need to put our foot down.
So far working I have missed several important events and milestones in my and my friends and families life due to work:
I missed my girlfriends graduation from Medical School
I missed my grandads death. My family was there the night before on his death bed and I couldn’t call off
My mom had a mastectomy done due to Cancer and I couldn’t be there for her when she came out of the OR, my dad passed away no too long ago due to skin cancer and my mom has no one with her
Had 1 last chance to see my dad: I was unable to attend thanksgiving where he shared cancer prognosis and let the family know his situation, unfortunately passed weeks later. I was unable to be there and I hate myself for it and fell in a depression for a while even though my dad would have wanted me to focus more on my career and success than worry for him 😢 ( teared up writing this)
My cousin was a Policeman and unfortunately passed away in the line of duty, I was unable to attend his funeral
I have put off surgery due to lack of sick days / vacation days ( Cardiac ablation due to arrhythmia and other underlying hereditary conditions which have gotten worse throughout the years. Unfortunately I require open surgery and I can’t afford (not monetary) 1 week in the ICU, and yes I do have a pacemaker)
Missed brothers bachelor party however got 2 days off for wedding coming up in next couple months !!!
I have friends and family in Europe who work in Finance and I am in awe and shock as to how good they have it and would love to eventually make the move: NOT UK
35 days vacation
Overtime accrues into vacation days that can be paid out
No working past 6:00 pm (obviously there are exceptions but you get it)
No weekend work
Health insurance covered by company ( firm and geography dependent)
Same base salary as USA believe it or not ( most of the time)
All in comp is ~5% give or take some bps within mine
2 year paternity leave ( firm dependent)
3 year maternity leave ( firm dependent)
Unlimited sick days ( sick days aren’t a thing, if you’re sick you just don’t go into work and don’t require doctors note until after x amount of days
FREE COFFEE IN OFFICE
WFH stipend ( believe it or not during COVID transition I was not provided a stipend and covered out of pocket despite being work expenses)
I’m sure there are many more just going off the top of my head.
This is absolutely ridiculous and unacceptable. # 1 country in the world ? Doesn’t feel like it.
How can we unionize across the street and DEMAND to be treated like HUMANS. I want the same or greater benefits than my counterparts across the ocean, at the end of the day we generate more $$$$. I would have loved to have seen my Peepaw and dad before them moving on and now I live with regret and resentment that I still haven’t been able to fully get over. Any first year or intern reading this, do not ever sacrifice family for your work. You have no idea how heavy this has weighed on my heart, body and soul. I thought I was making short term sacrifices for long term success, turns out I was just an idiot.
Don’t want anyone to ever experience this. Focus on family, work comes last
<img src="https://www.wallstreetoasis.com//files/inline-images/687AA6C7-9EA2-4CDD-AAD1-59F83E40624F.jpg" />
Formar Investment banker from Brazil here. I've worked in IB for 8 years and now I have my own boutique/small IB firm. Trust me: The culture CAN and SHOULD be good.
I've worked as a private military contractor for a few months and what I've learned is that organization and planning is a must! I brought this culture to IB as a VP. I've heard a lot of complaints of MDs at first, but after a few months, things were running smooth and perfect like a clockwork! If there was some serious urgent demand, the team would get together and work together (even if it wasn't your deal) to deliver asap so we all could go home earlier. Many situations were addressed because the team was working together.
If MDs in IB let their ego go away and focused on teamwork, everyone would be able to have a better life/work condition. Unfortunately, MDs and Directors can't even get along with themselves... they're always worried about beating their peers, performing more and more... and forget that the task could be performed in a human way. Come on, it's not like we are finding the cure to cancer!
I remember this time, soon as I started at my last employer, when an analyst forgot the pitchbook for a client. Instead of arguing I asked "how many hours have you been sleeping? This is a lack of sleep mistake". He answered "3 hours on average for the last 4 days". I told him to go home and sleep and take 2 days off. The MD got angry at me, but in the end I explained the situation and asked him to trust me. Fortunately at first he was comprehensive and accepted my ideas.
What I mean by this is that, if there's organization, we can get better quality of work with better work life balance. But leaders must care about it. If they don't, things will never get better...
Good guy Lucas
I’ve always wondered how much more efficient this job could be if people planned better. Even just in giving comments and reviewing rough drafts just to make sure everyone is aligned.
Blows my mind sometimes. Groups will be waiting 6+ hours just get sign off to print sometimes on a basic market update pitch because a senior won’t just give sign off.
Why are you saying "not UK" lol? This clearly is nothing to do with the UK because you're almost made to take your holiday days.
The problem here is that the industry has far more supply of willing workers than it does slots. You want to unionize? There's a kid from Rutgers who will happily take your job and work the hours needed to get the deal across the finish line.
Not saying it's right or wrong - it just is what it is
Yeah this is the unfortunate reality of most laptop jobs. You have little to no labor power because you do not have irreplaceable skills. They can fill your role quite easily if you make too much of a racket.
Not to mention that in a job like IB, there will always be those who are willing to “cross the picket line” and not fight/strike/union for better conditions to the detriment of the collective. From a game theory perspective that always leads to worse outcomes for the employee group.
Your comment history suggests this is bs
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