Hard to believe this isn't 'wide spread' given the number of anonymous complaints from employees/ex-employees. 

This is the old 'Executives-Setting-Targets-Then-Not-Wanting-To-Know-What-is-Done-to-Achieve-Those-Targets' thing. 

There's all sorts of regulations around in banking to 'protect the customer'. But the banks (a lot like their U.S. counterparts) seem to have become adept at getting around these regulations. 

One story I heard a few days ago was that there are various regulations around the qualifications and what your 'Financial Adviser' is allowed to do. So the banks have re-titled their employees as 'Financial Advisors' ('o' rather than 'e') as there are no rules around what a 'Financial Advisor' can do.  

I'd "advise" anyone with investments to keep track of them, ask questions and be prepared to pull your money out and walk out the door if you aren't making any money when everyone else is.