Lehman staff face uncertainty
SHOCKED office workers left the Lehman Brothers building this morning after the bank filed for bankruptcy protection.
Most of the workforce, who were leaving the company's offices at Bank Street in Canary Wharf with boxes or bags full of belongings, did not even know if they would be paid this month's wages.
Trush Patel, 25, who worked in the finance department, said staff each received a letter this morning stating the bank has gone into administration.
He said: "It's very mysterious. People are walking around not knowing what's happening.
"Quite a few are on the phone now looking for jobs or sending their CVs out.
"But with 5,000 in the jobs market now looking it will be very competitive."
It is not just traders who have been hit by the news.
Sphinx Patterson, 35, a freelance fitness instructor, who worked at the company's gym, is now also out of work.
He said: "I turned up to take my class at 12:15pm to be told the whole thing was closing down. All the gym machines were redundant and now I'm redundant.
"People are in tears in there. We're shocked and surprised. I came in thinking it was business as usual
and was just told sorry not today.
"There's people packing up boxes. Everyone shaking hands and hugging and there's nothing happening in there, no work going on.
"The impact is like an avalanche. Everybody's impacted, even me as a freelance fitness instructor."
Pick up The Wharf on Thursday for a full report on the bank's collapse and where it leaves Canary Wharf.
To see the photo gallery click here.
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I am truly sorry for everybody affected and sincerely hope that as many people as possible find alternative work quickly; even if its only a stop-gap. Also keeping my fingers crossed that it doesn't have an adverse knock-on effect for other employers in Canary Wharf.
i am honestly happy, and im sure alot of people are. it serves them right, they all deserve it, and i hope the other bankers get it 2.