My career is screwed, Lehman employee the day after 9/15, pay cheque friday, update 9-17:yes

'People were walking around in shock, girls were crying and guys were hugging and people were drinking lager and red wine in the canteen bar' Sphinx Patterson, personal trainer at Lehman Brothers

'I got an email on Sunday telling me to come in early and report to my desk and then everyone got told they were excused for the rest of the day. We are worried we won't get this month's pay cheque on Friday. I have to apply for a visa to stay in the UK now'
Duo Ai, research department

'It's unlikely anything is going to happen and everyone is finishing up. It's like a terrible death or like a massive earthquake'
Kirsty McCluskley, trading floor

'I just rented a flat with a six-month contract so I will have to find another job in London to finance it'
Edouard d'Archimbaud, first day on trading floor

'It is bad news for everyone. My career is screwed. Everyone is upset' Jack Reynolds, graduate trainee

The Financial Services Authority in London asked banks in the UK to disclose their exposure to Lehman.

The Lehman offices in the UK were essentially cut adrift and put into administration. There was an immediate ban on trading and staff were told to clear their desks. "It was surprisingly calm - there was a kind of blitz spirit in the sense that we were all in it together," one banker said. "It was made clear that there was no desire to have us hanging around."

Many have been told to return today for a briefing from the administrators. Employees hope to learn, among other things, whether they will receive monthly pay cheques due on September 21. "There's quite a lot of anger that things were allowed to get to this stage," he added.