Pencils down for JPMorgan staff

The financial giant’s new policy makes staff take time away from work as the industry undergoes a massive cultural shift.

JPMorgan has promised new recruits won’t be pushed as hard as the bankers of old by delivering a company-wide policy which forbids staff from working late at night or over weekends unless on a live deal.
 
These rules also include no marketing work done over weekends and no emailing from 7pm on Friday to midday on Saturday. The policy encompasses all staff at the firm from junior analysts to senior managing directors.
 
Leaders also no longer expect subordinates to work late into the night in a huge cultural shift within the investment banking industry.
 
The program is “working extremely well,” JPMorgan's head of global banking, Carlos Hernandez, told The Australian Financial Review.
 
“Why is it working? Because it is not unique to juniors. I said when we announced it that the whole system will condition itself to be more efficient. And guess what? That is what is happening. People want to feel like somebody cares about their career. And people don't like to waste time in nonsense.”
 
Staff are also being encouraged to work from home through remote log-ins and younger bankers are no longer required to go to business school to receive a promotion.
 
“Continuity matters. When you look at the initiatives to retain juniors, we are firm believers that continuity is what matters to our clients at the end of the day.”
 
As Australia is a key regional market, Hernandez said the firm also plans to scale up operations which are expected to experience a healthy deal flow.
 
“Our intention in Australia is to increase our headcount to cover some sectors we might like to have more bandwidth, the same thing in research and on the capital markets side – our intention is to grow more of our footprint in Australia,” he said.
 
“We anticipate opportunities will continue to grow in Australia and we will make sure we have resources aligned with that opportunity.”

More like this:

Government extends workplace support

Low body confidence bad news for businesses

Logistics firm gives $5k for best employee idea
 
 

Recent articles & video

'Ghosted': Employer stops replying to texts, calls after failing to pay wages

Oranga Tamariki to lay off nearly 450 workers

Mercado Libre to hire about 18,000 people: reports

'Terrifying' trend: Over 11 million malware attacks recorded globally in past 4 years

Most Read Articles

E Tū takes TVNZ to ERA for alleged non-compliance on consultation process

Blenheim worker wins $16,000 in damages over unjust dismissal claim

HR leaders gather for industry event of the year