Working on Juneteenth
Not trying to be political but is it just me or is it weird that my firm and many others out there decide to observe all federal and market holidays except Juneteenth? My firm isn’t the most diverse but that’s also most of finance, so that’s not a good excuse. I feel like it sends the wrong message too, especially when Juneteenth is supposed to be the celebration of the end of slavery. Maybe I’m just too Gen Z and we have to wait for the boomers to full retire off. Curious what are other people’s thoughts
It’s a valid concern and one that has been echoed in various discussions about diversity and inclusion in finance. Observing Juneteenth as a holiday—or not—can indeed send a strong message about a firm's values and commitment to inclusivity. While many firms in finance observe federal and market holidays, Juneteenth's recognition is still inconsistent across the industry, likely reflecting broader cultural and generational shifts that are still in progress.
The lack of recognition could stem from the fact that Juneteenth was only recently established as a federal holiday in 2021, and some firms may be slower to adapt. However, as you pointed out, this delay can feel tone-deaf, especially in an industry that already struggles with diversity and inclusion. It’s not just about observing a holiday but about acknowledging its significance and what it represents.
Your perspective as part of Gen Z is important because younger generations are increasingly pushing for change in workplace culture, including greater emphasis on diversity, equity, and inclusion. While it might take time for some firms to catch up, raising awareness and having these conversations is a step in the right direction.
Sources: Jamie Dimon on Diversity & energizing office culture - finally someone explains it, Follow up on my Last Diversity Post, Lack of diversity in Banking/Finance, Investment Banking Holidays?, Discrimination at BlackRock
Yea that’s strange. Fund where my internship was and my current bank both have had Juneteenth off.
Not really. It’s a brand new holiday and this is a culture where people are reluctant to give any days off they don’t have to. The first Juneteenth I didn’t get off and nobody realized. Got it off this year though.
I doubt it’s a political statement about the holiday and I doubt any bank would want to make such a statement.
No, they 100% know. People in finance are informed people. It’s a market holiday, every bank has off and it’s mentioned in the news like every federal holiday. I think it’s pretty sus of my firm and other firms as well and this is coming from a non diverse person. I get it if you’re on a deal just like every other holiday but it’s weird for the whole firm to not have the day off.
The first year it existed I was at a crossover so people had stuff to do even though mkts were closed.
My point is that there is no precedent to give it as a day off since it’s a new holiday. As a result they default to people working on it.
Your bank respects any federal holiday to begin with? Lol
Worked in a T2/3 southern city for my analyst years and we observed it but you best bet the NYC deal teams were still pinging us for deliverables lol
You work at a fund that completely shuts down every federal holiday or something? Our office was "closed" on Friday for Juneteenth just like it is for every other holiday, but I still worked til 1am.
This is definitely a gen-z social-media-brained take lol.
One is a federal holiday the other is not
The waiter and cooks don't get the day off, why should your all-white investment firm get it?
Lick my nards bitch
Hah, good one
Investment banks have days off for things like labor day and the 4th of July?
Praise the big yahoo
Not really, Hanukkah is a Jewish holiday, so makes sense to not celebrate if you’re not Jewish. Juneteenth is an American holiday. The abolishment of slavery is a pretty big milestone second to maybe only our independence so it’s kinda weird to be so against it.
Also who wouldn’t want an extra day off?
It’s just wimpy white boy syndrome grumpy about DEI so this is their way of “retaliating”…by arguing why they SHOULD work for their boss an extra day on the calendar, lol
I’ve never been a slave nor did my family ever own slaves. It’s not applicable to me.
working 16 hours on a holiday to own the libs... congrats wso
Why is Gen Z obsessed with Juneteenth
It’s so funny that people want to work more. It’s a federal holiday. You should get it off. I golfed and watched the U.S. game. It was great. I’m in full support of any holidays and days off for myself. Why people would object to that or call it woke is fucking stupid. You’re free to work if you want
It's not just you. A lot of places are slow to adopt it. They'll claim it's because it's newer or whatever. But every holiday was new at some point.
Is it a boutique? hard to imagine a large established firm wouldnt get backlash for this
Id et ea sint hic. Numquam eligendi dicta sit vel quidem atque. Iste consequatur ut sunt dolorem. Consequatur iusto cum ut cumque repellendus. Est sit expedita praesentium quaerat.
Labore necessitatibus numquam modi quidem enim ullam vel natus. Expedita sint alias rerum ullam voluptate. Quia quaerat voluptates possimus quidem ullam fugit. Eos veniam tempore laudantium ratione dolor ex. Aliquid atque placeat minus sit placeat explicabo. Aperiam voluptatum nihil error dolorem quo ipsam. Et voluptatem saepe officia voluptas quas illo deserunt.
Fugiat ut voluptas ut molestiae dolore veritatis. Hic dolores laboriosam voluptate qui enim. Enim consequatur mollitia nesciunt quaerat ea laborum.
Autem ducimus labore sapiente iure possimus impedit. Molestiae ut dolor quia adipisci. Et maiores et veritatis voluptatem iusto. Necessitatibus nemo qui dolores nihil repellendus et ratione.
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...
Saepe ut qui dolorem qui optio dolor explicabo. Aut sit aut qui occaecati expedita quidem modi quia. Quae ipsam saepe ratione explicabo. Velit aliquid laboriosam expedita et sunt totam aut. Ut neque harum est aut. Dolores quod est eos ut.
Aut voluptas voluptatum est qui ex maiores. Culpa perspiciatis praesentium voluptas atque iste est.