Bank Intern Dies After Working 72 Hours Straight

The death of an intern working at the London offices of Bank of America Merrill Lynch (August 2013) has prompted calls for city firms to take more responsibility for the ambitious graduates who push themselves to the limit to secure jobs at the world’s top banks.

Attracted to the glamour world of finance in London, New York, Hong Kong  and Singapore by the prospect of securing a full-time job and hefty wage, they often face 20-hour days in some of the most adrenaline-soaked offices on earth. But serious concerns about interns working long hours and even through the night were raised on this Ausgust after the death of Moritz Erhardt, 21, who was found dead late last week at his London accommodation towards the end of a seven-week internship.

The German intern allegedly worked for 72 hours without sleep in the Bank of America’s investment banking division. The cause of his death was unknown pending post-mortem tests.

Some criticis condemned the culture at investment banks  : Calling it  “slavery in the city” this exploitation of youth is unacceptable.  But interns doubted it would possible to change the culture, saying they were never explicitly told to work such long hours but imposed this on themselves in their desperation for a job. “People push themselves because they want an offer with the bank and the chance of a great career and great money,” said one former intern from a major U.S. bank who secured a job after the summer. “This is a golden path.”

So friends are we still aiming for these bank jobs ??? Worth it?