The CEO leaned back.
“That sentence is why you should stop talking until counsel arrives.”
The director stared.
The chairman almost smiled.
She noticed.
“You think this is funny?”
“No.”
He became serious.
“I think you are currently offering evidence about how you view employees.”
The director pointed toward the glass wall.
“They are employees.”
“Not my friends.”
“Not my family.”
“I am paid to produce results.”
The CEO asked:
“And what are they paid for?”
“To perform.”
“Not obey?”
The director’s eyes hardened.
“Leadership requires standards.”
“Humiliation is not a standard.”
“You saw one interaction.”
The CEO opened the folder.
“Would you like me to read the others?”
The director froze.
The CEO turned one page.
“March 14.”
“Junior analyst ordered to clean conference-room chairs after challenging a forecast.”
Another.
“April 3.”
“Procurement coordinator removed from a promotion slate after refusing to pick up your personal dry cleaning.”
Another.
“May 11.”
“Administrative employee instructed to scrub food from a break-room floor while visiting executives watched.”
The director scoffed.
“That employee caused the mess.”
The CEO looked at her.
“The security footage says otherwise.”
A pause.
The director’s face changed.
The CEO continued.
“June 8.”
“Employee told she looked ‘too street’ for a client meeting.”
“June 26.”
“Employee told to straighten her hair because clients expected polish.”
The director leaned forward.
“That was grooming advice.”
The CEO looked through the glass toward the young analyst outside.
The young woman had natural curls pulled into a bun.