HBK Investments – “While I don't regret having worked there, I can't recommend it”

Pros

Money is everything at HBK and yes they will pay you well. Do a good job or your bonus will suffer and all it takes is a single minor infraction. They did cater lunch and health benies were ok. Tons of money pumped into technology. Everyone in the office had at least 2 monitors and there were more servers than employees. It is very prestigious to work in the Crescent buildings in Uptown Dallas.
Severance was very generous.
Beer Fridays were a cool touch.
Xmas parties were legendary.
Any beverage you could want for.

Cons

Mandatory 15% of your base salary goes to a SEP IRA.
Annual review structure changed to make it hard to even get a 3 out of 5 rating (5=GOD). This was done to limit bonuses but sold as an employee benefit.
Waist-high cubicles and glass office walls. ZERO privacy, for anyone.
Culture was stressful, cold, and unfriendly. No one says "hi" passing you in the halls. Your manager is nipping at your heels checking your every move. Don't react fast enough to a problem after-hours and you will probably hear about it on your review.
Don't you DARE go even slightly against anyone in upper mgmt or you are done for.
They let many good people go and kept the ingratiators.
Working at HBK was among the most stressful times in my life. I'm glad I was "good" enough to be hired by them but you couldn't pay me enough to go back.
Work/life balance is about as bad as it gets.

Advice to Senior Management

Let the people you hire do what you hired them to do! Listen to their ideas and take their advice. Stop the knee-jerk/ reactionary policies after any little thing goes wrong.
Evaluate the true worth of the "yes men" you've hired.
CTO: You told the entire IT department that it would take many consecutive quarters of down firm performance before there would be any cuts in IT personnel. You then laid off 20% a few weeks later.