A call to Citi colleagues
From the moment I set foot in a Citi office, it was clear what corporate disease had taken hold: not speaking about actual issues, carefully stepping around them, and not providing any upward feedback. It was palpable.
It is so deeply ingrained I don’t think people know that they are doing it anymore.
There are many reasons why the state of Citi’s culture has reached those levels of devolution. I won’t relitigate them here.
I want to appeal to Citi workers – who are uninformed about what’s going on at Citi, as the newspapers have proven a far more reliable source of information than any town-hall: it is time to do things differently.
The law of silence is how toxic managers and leaders have perpetuated at Citi. They managed upward, knowing full well nothing would ever reach past them to jeopardize their standing.
However reviled the Global Head of Wealth is in some circles, he understood the disease perfectly, explaining in a mass email, the bane of “managing upward”: yes-people asserting all is well, while not executing or delivering anything of value.
Many such leaders are still at Citi post reorganization, and doing way better than Fraser’s transformation claims would have the street believe.
I wager the executives are shocked to uncover what has been going on, on their watch, through this channel. They were groomed to fall prey to the smoke and mirrors of managing upward.
I urge everyone here, men and women, to use their voice. Your voice matters. Your contributions should matter. If you see something, say something – make it true, make it real. Do not let this cycle of toxicity go on without attempting in earnest to sanitize it.
This is your time. This is your chance. There are ways to raise issues without compromising NDAs.
Story 388 said Legal added more non-disclosure clauses to the release for pittance severance. Fraser continues to assert Citi has policies.
But notice what this is: nothing but more of the same old playbook to keep the lid on truth, instead of taking a good look and making a change for the transformation of all things sinful.
The legal landscape is changing. Increasingly, courts are challenging severance releases that muzzle employees about workplace issues.
Do not sign your rights away. If you’ve been unfairly treated, make a stand for justice.