I'd like to find out what they are like as an employer - things like leave entitlement, maternity etc, but can't find any details on their website. can anyone help?

they generally give the bare minimum they can possibly get away with (depending on job status) like all big companies. They also constantly want more more more out of you. Constant working practice reviews etc. Crap company to work for. I once had them timing on a stop watch the time each process took in order to see if they could increase productivity further. Then it comes to pay review time, and you get some **** ant 2.75% type increase. I left long ago. Just my opinion tho.

Well, never having actually worked for them... a friend left our work to go to them, never lasted the week and came back again. Also, a member of my family is being made redundant due to off shoring, so there's also that to consider - that they're not a UK company.

theripsaw, when you have an opinion that isnt based on bull****, give it ;)

My mum and dad have worked for HSBC and they both say they are very reliable, they give a lot to their employees and often great advantages too. I know my dad has a great pension scheme and gets almost free private health care for him and direct family :)

Thanks everyone:) .

Jimbob - do you have any idea of what their leave entitlement is like?
Thanks
Elle

they're not a UK company.

Actually they are. They were founded by a Scotsman, in 1865, to finance the growing trade between China and Europe.

They are (and I believe always have been) headquartered in London.

http://www.hsbc.com/hsbc/about_hsbc/group-history?cp=/public/groupsite/about_hsbc/en/group_history_current.html

They are ..... but only since 2003.

Since its creation the Head Office was in Hong Kong except for a period during WW2 when HK was overrun by the Japanese.

I've worked for them for 18 years (in IT).

Working in the branches is getting bad press at the mo but as a company I have found them to be fine.

Get 30 days a year holiday (+ bank hols)

I've worked for them for 18 years (in IT).

Working in the branches is getting bad press at the mo but as a company I have found them to be fine.

Get 30 days a year holiday (+ bank hols)

Thanks - any idea on maternity leave?

Also, in terms of pay, do you know how they rank compared to other banks?

Thanks again,
Elle

I've worked for them for 18 years (in IT).

Working in the branches is getting bad press at the mo but as a company I have found them to be fine.

Get 30 days a year holiday (+ bank hols)

As do i, but although we may get 30 days a year its unlikely for someone joining in a lower grade...

Expect around 22 days a year holiday at a staff grade. I believe maternity leave has now been increased to 16 weeks (but dont quote me on that!)

As do i, but although we may get 30 days a year its unlikely for someone joining in a lower grade...

Expect around 22 days a year holiday at a staff grade. I believe maternity leave has now been increased to 16 weeks (but dont quote me on that!)

Thanks - can you tell me how the grade system works?

Sorry for asking so many questions, but there doesn't seem to be much information about their employment policy on line.

The job advert I have seen is a very general advert and implies that there are numerous posts of differing grades available.

From reports from a close friend who worked for them, theripsaw's account seems most like what she experienced.

I joined the bank in October, I really like it and there seems to be plenty of scope to progres. BUT I work in IT so things would be different than for the branch staff. As I am a techie I came in on the lowest "Management" grade

Thanks everyone:) .

Jimbob - do you have any idea of what their leave entitlement is like?
Thanks
Elle

I worked for them for 6 years based in Sheffield.

If you're on about holiday entitlement, staff grades start on 23 days plus bank holidays but goes up after a year, management grades start on 28 plus bank holidays and raise to 30 after a while.

All in all a very good company to work for if occasionally you do feel a little lost by the overall targets.

Thanks everyone. Sounds like it is worth looking in to!

...............

theripsaw, when you have an opinion that isnt based on bull****, give it ;)

My mum and dad have worked for HSBC and they both say they are very reliable, they give a lot to their employees and often great advantages too. I know my dad has a great pension scheme and gets almost free private health care for him and direct family :)

Sorry Jimbob, your mum and dad must be right.
Though I doubt you know what a 'great pension scheme' entails, and whether your dad has one! ;)