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Morgan Stanley

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Good starting position but lack of leadership and work/life balance - Equity Derivatives Product Controller Morgan Stanley Employee Review

2.0
Mar 27, 2014
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

It was a good job right out of college to get some experience and get an idea of what work life was really about. Premium pay was okay. While I was salaried, I did receive overtime at half of my calculated hourly pay. Example: If I worked 50 hours, I would get my standard 40 hour pay but also be paid for 5 hours for 10 hours of overtime. It was nice to get SOMETHING for all the late time but I slowly learned that it was not worth it. Vacation time starts at 20 days, 10 of which have to be consecutive due to Dodd-Frank legislation (investor protection/fraud monitoring).

Cons

LOTS of late nights. I averaged about 50-52 hours every week. Promotions and raises are only done once a year which is "industry standard" as I was told. Managers seem to be promoted based on time served not intelligence. My manager was using notes that she borrowed from a girl who had been employed only a month! The hierarchy in the company, especially Baltimore was really bad and rigid. If you are low man on the totem pole, don't expect much help, and expect to get the shaft often. Very limited work/life balance, which they claimed was very important to them. They give a gym subsidy of $25 per month, but this is taxed once a year and it only works out to be about $15 per month. "Forced" volunteerism. Coworkers and I were pressured constantly to donate, volunteer, "we are not doing enough in our group," etc. It didn't feel like volunteering at all! Parking is not free. It costs about $120 per month to park at the building you work at! Bathrooms are limited. 3 stalls for each bathroom, for a floor of about 225-250 people.

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5.0
Apr 5, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Innovative, good benefits, good compensation

Cons

A lot of layers to work through at times

3.0
May 30, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Very good co-workers, Great technology stack. Lot of new technologies and integration with current work.

Cons

They dont even give you a MS cup. They ask you to buy it for 5$. So cheap! Management big on "Giving back", Immediate managers do not like it and are not supportive. Lay off employees twice a year to show profits. Only worried about shareholders and clients. Don't know the criteria for lay-off. So, you are always worried if it is your turn. They boast about mental health and wellness. No good, when they layoff employees like this. HR = Horrible Resources. When you are laid off, they shoo you away as if you are a fly. You feel miserable. They themselves say - "We are better than Facebook or Oracle. We dont fire you at 6 AM over email." Gosh! What a comparison!

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