HSBC reviews

Unrealistic workload expectations, staff treated like cattle, expected to have no life outside of HSBC, bad attitude from senior management which filters down to subordinates, no drive to update technologies, painfully manual tasks, outdated systems, staff are expected to complete mandatory overtime (average of 5 hour a week) plus weekend working.

Where can I start with HSBC? It is a very large, slow, short-sighted global bank that will most likely be the worst place I have ever worked. I spent 5 years there in 3 different positions, so I got a feel for multiple departments. At every turn there are incompetent, mean and disrespectful managers who continue to get promotions. These are often the suck-ups or the relatives of HSBC C-level execs or high value clients. I can think of one key example of this, a manager I used to have. This was a woman who types with two fingers, wears low cut shirts and cannot understand the most basic of processes. She has prevented her own staff from promotions and new roles because she is too lazy to rehire. She effectively shut down 20% of the team at HSBC Canada and now works in HR. She clearly favours promoting men over women. She "works from home" all the time when we all knew she was just dropping off and picking up her daughter from school This is just one small example of the nepotism and futility at this company. As an employee, goals were unrealistic and there was extreme pressure day to day. The convoluted, every changing corporate structure made it nearly impossible to be effective in your job. Things changed constantly, and often half-baked. Departments were merged and un-merged. Local structures became global overnight, with many people reporting to managers in remote locations and forced to take 3am "team" conference calls. My advice would be to run away from any job offer at HSBC. This is a sinking giant in an outdated industry. They only got e-mail transfer payments in 2015 for godsake! The pay and bonuses are not worth the stress on yourself, your family and your health. This is not a place I was proud to work at ever, and I'm glad I'm gone.