Jefferies 2nd year Analyst Layoffs

Caught wind of a rumor today and then found this release:

http://dealbreaker.com/2008/04/sensing_youre_abou…

Apparently Jefferies cut their 2nd year analyst class and they received 2.5 months severance and 75% of last year's bonus.

Anyone have any details?

Sounds like a sweet deal to me.

9 Comments
 

Yeah, heard about that too, supposedly all but a few of them were released...wow

​* http://www.linkedin.com/in/numicareerconsulting
 
Best Response

This one is a head-scratcher for me. Why do it?

You're giving them severance that approaches the remainder of their term. Let them serve it out. Most second years are starting to check out at this point regardless. From a cost perspective, you are only saving the delta between 75% of last year's first years and what you would underpay for this year, right? And now you're forcing them to explain the whole layoff thing for the next job they take.

If it were me, I'd just pull the their third year offers, pay them the 75% of last year as their exit bonus, and let them use the next few months to line up a new job without the stigma of a layoff.

It's perplexing.

 

But it still needs an explanation, regardless of whether it's easier or not.

But I was speaking from the perspective of the firm, rather than of the analysts. It just seems like a decision which was made that benefitted the firm very little, while potentially burdening the analysts disproportionately.

Look, I'm not naive. I know Jefferies is a small public company. Laying them off let's you lump the bonuses and remaining salaries as a one-time severance expense versus ongoing compensation, but I think that's a miserable reason to lay off a bunch of junior bankers when the actual dollar difference is minimal versus letting them finish their terms.

 

Seems like they're gonna build up some serious negative sentiment with regards to junior level employees. If I saw something like this happen I'd think twice about working there or suggesting someone work there.

 

Agree with Ghenghis that the mathematics of it certainly don't make sense this late in the year. I would add though, the analysts getting laid off just got themselves a three month paid vacation, which I'm doubting anyone is complaining about!

CompBanker’s Career Guidance Services: https://www.rossettiadvisors.com/
 

Molestias placeat velit est. Officia ea quis nulla non sit. Harum perspiciatis quis reiciendis enim tempore eos beatae.

Ea vel in omnis dolorum. Fuga natus iure hic molestiae est. Dolores voluptates sed mollitia deserunt. Repudiandae non possimus quae molestias odio exercitationem et. Modi ducimus asperiores et et ut voluptate atque.

Aut animi rem perspiciatis rem. Distinctio aut ut aliquam rerum voluptatibus voluptatem sed. Voluptas aut distinctio ut ipsa nesciunt quaerat. Aliquid omnis alias qui adipisci dolorem aspernatur. Cupiditate cum eligendi ut pariatur occaecati omnis saepe.

Temporibus voluptatem et quia qui aut corporis illo nisi. Eligendi nulla est necessitatibus esse. Ipsam delectus voluptatum quis aliquam error qui.

Career Advancement Opportunities

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.4%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.8%
  • JPMorgan 01 98.2%
  • Guggenheim Partners 01 97.7%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 97.1%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.4%
  • Morgan Stanley 01 98.8%
  • Evercore 01 98.2%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.6%
  • Banco Santander 01 97.1%

Professional Growth Opportunities

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.4%
  • Evercore No 98.8%
  • Morgan Stanley 05 98.2%
  • JPMorgan No 97.7%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.1%

Total Avg Compensation

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (14) $434
  • Associates (43) $259
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (22) $179
  • Intern/Summer Associate (13) $156
  • 1st Year Analyst (75) $151
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (67) $101
notes
16 IB Interviews Notes

“... there’s no excuse to not take advantage of the resources out there available to you. Best value for your $ are the...”

Leaderboard

1
redever's picture
redever
99.2
2
kanon's picture
kanon
99.0
3
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
4
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
5
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
6
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
7
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
8
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
9
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
10
Jamoldo's picture
Jamoldo
98.8
success
From 10 rejections to 1 dream investment banking internship

“... I believe it was the single biggest reason why I ended up with an offer...”