“Workforce productivity.”
He looked at the executives.
“Who is being removed?”
A younger man answered.
“Certain roles are being consolidated.”
“Names.”
The man glanced at Richard.
Daniel noticed.
“Interesting.”
Richard leaned forward.
“The decisions are not personal.”
Daniel nodded.
“That sentence has frightened employees for a hundred years.”
“With respect, businesses have to evolve.”
“Of course.”
“Some positions become redundant.”
“Of course.”
“Then what are you objecting to?”
Daniel folded the payroll sheet slowly.
“I’m objecting to people becoming inconvenient before they become redundant.”
Richard stared at him.
Daniel continued.
“Evelyn called me.”
A flicker crossed Richard’s face.
“She didn’t ask me to intervene.”
Nobody moved.
“She didn’t complain about losing her position. She told me she was worried about the company.”
One executive spoke.
“We’ve offered generous severance.”
“I’m glad.”
Daniel looked at him.
“What’s your name?”
The man blinked.
“Mark Ellison.”
“How long have you worked here, Mark?”
“Three years.”
“Do you know who trained the person who runs our Midwest supplier network?”
Mark hesitated.