JPMorgan Chase has begun using technology to monitor the working hours of junior investment bankers by comparing their self-reported time sheets with computer-generated estimates based on IT system logs.

The US bank has started issuing reports to junior bankers as part of a pilot program that tracks discrepancies between claimed work hours and data collected from the bank's computer systems. The initiative represents a new approach to monitoring employee hours in the investment banking sector.

According to the company, the tool is designed for "awareness, not enforcement," suggesting the bank intends to use the data for informational purposes rather than disciplinary action. The reports are being provided directly to the junior bankers themselves as part of the pilot scheme.

The move comes as Wall Street firms face ongoing scrutiny over working conditions for junior staff, particularly regarding long hours that have been a longstanding feature of investment banking culture. Banks have been under pressure to better track and manage employee workloads.

The pilot program specifically targets junior investment bankers, who traditionally work some of the longest hours in the financial services industry. By comparing self-reported hours with actual computer usage data, the bank aims to gain better insight into actual working patterns among this group of employees.