Wall Street banker’s death at 35 ignites firestorm over alleged grueling 100-hour workweeks
NY Post
The death of a Bank of America associate last week has ignited a firestorm on Wall Street as some bankers slam the toxic work culture they feel contributed to his death — including reported complaints over 100-hour workweeks.
Leo Lukenas III, a former Green Beret who was part of the bank’s Financial Institutions Group, died of “acute coronary artery thrombus” at age 35 last Thursday, according to a Reuters report.
He leaves behind a wife and two young children.
His death came after he had allegedly been working some 100 hours a week for several weeks in a row on a $2 billion merger that was completed last Monday — three days before his tragic death.
Much of the outcry on social media site Reddit from purported bank staffers has been directed at Lukenas’ boss Gary Howe, co-head of the financial institutions group. Howe took down his LinkedIn page during the last few days.
Some employees have reportedly messaged each other about a possible walkout in an effort to bargain for better working conditions, according to popular financial website and chat board Wall Street Oasis.
