One particularly shocking disclosure to Goldman's current mortgage traders, according to one of them, came in the employee performance reviews that were unearthed by the Senate committee.

WSJ: For Goldman Employees, Concern and Shots

So firms use many tools to take the pulse of their employees annual employee surveys, quarterly performance reviews, weekly manager meetings, talent reviews, town hall meetings and so on.

FORBES: Measuring Workforce Experience

The frequency of lunches, performance reviews, volunteer program outings and team-building exercises does not produce higher levels of employee engagement.

FORBES: (Almost) Everything We Think About Employee Engagement is Wrong

Mandatory "360-degree" performance reviews--feedback from bosses, peers and underlings--are under way for every employee.

FORBES: Paddling Upstream