This is just for fun- curious to get peoples opinions. Whether a specific group within a BB (from direct experience or experience working at that BB in another group) or maybe a boutique. Lets hear it. I know GS Healthcare is supposed to be pretty relaxed, and obviously most of us have heard about their newly implemented weekend policy. Of course culture is also very personal (and depends on your fit in the specific group), but I think we can still track down groups that are widely thought of as being relatively relaxed. Will be interested to see what sort of responses this gets.
Trending Content - Investment Banking Forum
| +84 | Drunk VP. How to manage? | 28 | 37m |
| +42 | How do I take my foot off the gas? (AN1) | 4 | 3d |
| +38 | Lazard US Views 2026/2027 | 14 | 3h |
| +37 | Tomorrow Will Be Better | 5 | 6h |
| +36 | Who is the final boss in Houston Energy? (GS, JEFF or EVR) | 9 | 3h |
| +28 | Moelis PCA vs Lower tier BB Coverage | 18 | 40m |
| +26 | Why did EVR succeed vs GHL or PWP that ended up getting acquired? | 9 | 1d |
| +26 | Why Do We Turn Comments? | 3 | 6h |
| +21 | How early is to early? | 9 | 1d |
| +20 | MS NYC Generalist Program Group Rankings & Placement Process | 11 | 9h |
Career Resources
i know everyone says EVR is a sweatshop, but i think that's more as a result of dealflow. in terms of people, i was really impressed with everyone i met there.
BX R&R and M&A, GHL
I actually missed this about a 'weekend policy' at GS. Care to link or elaborate anybody?
Thanks.
apparently they are no longer aloud to work on Saturday's.
adverb: aloud 1. audibly; not silently or in a whisper.
verb: allow 1. admit (an event or activity) as legal or acceptable.
GS TMT/FIG
Serious responses only, please.
My insight-
JPM- Real Estate/TMT GS- Healthcare MS- Transportation/Power&Utilities Centerview- not sure how true this is Greenhill
Have heard that MS Power/Utilities/Energy Spectrum is pretty rough ever since their Houston office has been bringing in massive deals.
Separate groups- MS Natural Resources Group (NRG) works with the guys down in Houston and has it pretty rough. Power and Utilities is separate (one of the larger groups out of NY) and does not.
MS for this? Really?
I've heard good things about MS transportation as well.
Barc healthcare just did the same thing with their guys re: saturday policy
I heard some oil & gas/energy groups are doing the same thing. Wonder why it's all the current high deal flow groups doing it.
CS energy group is doing this
Hopefully my bank does this. At least one guaranteed day off would do a ton for morale and the quality of the end work product
Does anyone else find it ironic that the healthcare groups are giving people time to rest?
BAML E&P, BAML Media/Telecom, and MS E&P
BX M&A/RR... hours are good, culture is solid
Does this "saturdays off" policy actually help you guys that much? Doesn't all your weekend work just get log jammed into Sunday. Maybe it's just not being present and doing Saturday facetime that helps?
I haven't ever worked at a BB so this idea seems a little strange to me. At my smaller IB shop we never had to be in the office per se but we needed to get work done through the weekend usually for a Mon morning deliverable.
I work in a group that does this. We were previously considered a sweatshop, but I think the Saturday policy has made it significantly better. Granted, we probably work later on the weekdays than others in the same industry group by an hour or so, but having 1 day guaranteed off is great. I made plans with my friends/family on Saturdays and they never fell through. On Sundays I work 12-6 or 7 on average. Sometimes later. We also have a policy that people need to be out of the office Friday nights. I think it helps with morale a lot. Hours are the same compared to other groups though. just less on weekends and more on weekdays
GS SF Generalist (NOT TMT). Very chill.
BX for the hours/culture/exit ops
...
I don't work in a BB but generally speaking we have Saturdays off or just a few hours of work from home.
It makes things so much better. I'd rather have Saturday off and work 12-8/10 on Sunday than work both days.
Best "Lifestyle" Groups? (Originally Posted: 11/16/2012)
Am thinking about lateraling and staying in IBD long term. What are the best "lifestyle" groups on wall street (besides GS HC)?
interested as well
Depends on what level and what you are after by lifestyle. Are you a deal junky or a client guy/gal?
i'm talking about what are decent BB groups with great culture and humane hours. Focus more on grea culture and humane hours over "prestige"
I mean culture wise I think it completely depends on the kind of person you are and how you fit in with the others in the group. Don't think there is any real- 'right answer.'
Probably ECM and DCM.
.
Anyone know anything about M&A groups?
Go to a product group. Always way easier because all the crappy stuff falls on the industry analysts. Average leaving time for product guys at my firm is 3-4 hours minimum before industry guys.
GS Healthcare is run by Robert King, he's a great guy. The culture in the group is phenomenal. Their 'blackout' period is 9pm Friday-9am Sunday, 36 hours where you're not supposed to be in the office. It doesn't crush the weekdays; the mantra is 'get your work done and go home.' Not a facetime culture at all.
Both groups at Blackstone are great. M&A because they don't have brutal dealflow, Restructuring because of the environment. Both groups recruit amazing people and it shows.
I know a couple of interns in GS HC that said they got worked to the bone this summer. Prob because they're interns.
What do you consider 'good' hours, avg 80/wk?
Healthcare at GS is the only group to have the blackout period. That group does not have bad hours whatsoever, particularly relative to others with comparable dealflow within the same firm.
I know that healthcare at JPM is implementing a monthly free period, but I don't know to what extent. I know people in almost every group there but that is not one.
Heard rumors from juniors in BAML healthcare that the seniors are considering a similar lifestyle initiative, but who knows how well it may go over.
Per your question, "good" is subjective. I think anything under 85 is very reasonable; that's 10am-midnight five days a week with another 15 split across your two weekend days, or 10am-2am five days a week with 5 across the weekend. Some people might disagree.
Good to know this.
Not at Barc, but I've heard that TMT there may do the same.
JPM HC recently implemented a one weekend per month policy.
Do any groups at GS have the weekend policy besides HC?
WTF is a "culture" group?
Is that a euphemism for homosexuality? If so - Goldman FIG.
Ut praesentium iusto totam est nihil praesentium corrupti. Est culpa sint sunt earum ullam. Alias placeat possimus expedita aut ut. Culpa quas commodi omnis voluptatem voluptate veniam quidem quae. Architecto commodi reprehenderit sint natus consequuntur architecto. Eos deserunt voluptate nulla molestiae et facere vel.
Aliquid ducimus quidem vero vel aut id. Repellendus veniam enim dignissimos velit eos. Minima enim et voluptatem et maxime quae fugiat.
Enim quisquam quae dolores dolor quos ut. Et libero vel minima voluptas dignissimos quia id. Sit repellat harum odit omnis blanditiis possimus. Non delectus aut iste dignissimos saepe cum voluptatem. Aut ut rerum magni ut delectus sequi voluptatem.
Quam autem et in. In non beatae et temporibus animi. Aut neque sapiente vero voluptatem incidunt eius ratione adipisci. Temporibus quaerat dolore reprehenderit voluptates minus non ipsa.
See All Comments - 100% Free
WSO depends on everyone being able to pitch in when they know something. Unlock with your email and get bonus: 6 financial modeling lessons free ($199 value)
or Unlock with your social account...
Aut veritatis corrupti sed iure beatae. Illo quaerat eum ipsum dolor reiciendis veritatis. Illum vero autem praesentium impedit. Eum omnis numquam culpa mollitia.
Tempora architecto consequatur nam exercitationem tempore quidem. Ut sunt dolores voluptatem modi.
Tempore fugit est laborum quis laudantium beatae a. Soluta aut incidunt qui possimus.
Nam deserunt aut eaque vero eaque deleniti. Repudiandae repudiandae est eaque totam. Voluptates et et eveniet delectus incidunt accusamus. In nostrum ea et.
Fugiat inventore autem quo sit. Deserunt deleniti dolore deserunt dicta. Iure impedit perspiciatis fugiat. Magnam aut et qui animi ab aut. Non quas consequatur consequatur voluptatem amet tenetur.
Et facere voluptas corrupti quia qui in voluptas. Expedita debitis ea rerum. Aliquid error neque ut esse exercitationem ut quia. Sed omnis magnam tenetur. Quidem eos maiores sunt in.
Amet et ab est impedit ut ipsam. Natus natus rerum et consequatur necessitatibus voluptas odit asperiores.