Morgan Stanley was the top investment bank in the Financial Times "50 Best Workplaces in the UK 2004", at number 36. The Financial Times commended Morgan Stanley for two specific efforts: its flexible working arrangements program, Flexopt, and the Firmwide quiz nights in London, combining senior management involvement with fundraising.

The publication also singled out the Firm’s open communications culture, with employee feedback highlighting the benefits of direct access to and dialogue with the Firm’s most senior management.

Survey methodology involved sampling 250 of our employees at random, with questions highlighting trustworthiness and competence of management, recognition of personal and professional worth, equitable sharing of opportunities and rewards, pride in the job, and camaraderie. Rankings, based on points, relied primarily on employee feedback. Produced by the Great Places to Work Institute, the methodology is also used in 25 countries in more than 30 lists such as the 100 Best Companies to Work for in America by Forbes magazine.

"This achievement is particularly gratifying and cements our findings from our own employee opinion survey last year," said Executive Director Dawn Nicholson, Human Resources. "We are 100% committed to these efforts and the survey is timely given that we are actively looking to extend several initiatives across continental Europe this year."

The second-highest investment bank in the survey was Goldman Sachs at number 42.