Experience of working here is negatively correlated with your ambition - Manager HSBC Employee Review

Most of the actual work is done by a small cadre of employees at the lower and middle levels. I am referring to the type of work that is foundational and encourages success for the business. These are the people in office working and/or online constantly. The other type of employee can be at lower, middle or upper level of the business. They orbit around the ones who do the work. Especially at upper levels, they make desultory comments on what is put in front of them (this unwillingness to understand means even good ideas are executed badly), and spend their days co-opting the work on meetings and business trips. You may get glowing performance reviews, but it is often a relatively inexpensive way to keep you where management needs you, because their lifestyle depends on it. You soon realize your career involves subsidizing other peoples' careers. A true shame if you actually love what you do and are good at it.