Large company, small minded with specific division. - Anonymous employee Goldman Sachs Employee Review

There's many branches within Goldman. So I can not speak to them all as the company is massive. However for the division I work in I see a few issues. One being that management talks behind the backs of the employees. Also that if someone is not doing well in the division, it's openly known on the floor. I've had one co-worker who had really no business knowing another co-workers standing talking to me about "His numbers" and how poorly he does, and basically what a looser he is. If this was one isolated incidents it would be one thing, but it just isn't. I've had this come up in meetings with my manager where he discussed the standing of someone and though didn't give an name, gave descriptors that made if fairly clear who he was talking about. I've also noticed that thought they do attempt to coach and help these people, they also treat them like they are total morons, talking just a bit more slowly, or explaining things just a bit more than necessary. This sometimes coming from manager who have only had this and one other job in the two or three years they've actually been old enough to work.... Manager I'm thinking of is 22. It's only his second job. No education past High School talking to an older man with a bachelors and 40 years work experience under his belt. Speaking of age, I have also noticed within our division, no one over a certain age gets promoted. There is a huge age gap in regards to who's moving up and who's not. This I find highly disturbing in that it appears to be clear age discrimination. Though the job is secure, they will not fire anyone for the most part. In all likelihood to avoid unemployment penalties. However they will keep people around bumping down their pay and putting them through Hell trying to push them out. On the surface it's a friendly upbeat environment. Under the surface though it's very very dysfunctional edging on abusive. One last thing to note..... the company is VERY conscious of it's image. They are big on "Reputational Risk." In working here you are told you are forbidden to act in any way politically, like any protests, volunteering with certain groups, etc. So be sure you are willing to trade your civil and constitutional rights fr a pay check. It's to the point that one person who wanted to volunteer with the opera of all things was told she had to get permission from a review board before she could even look at it. Beyond mind boggling.