[Mick]

Based on the number of people Mick has had to fire, I assume he is part of the "managerial elite" in his company. And I'm guessing his salary is six figures, so he's also part of the upper middle class elite. So is he part of the problem, making choices for workers that he himself is insulated from? 

I don't make the choices and I'm not insulated from my team. I'm the middleman, forced to execute choices that are inflicted upon me from above. Not surprisingly, the demands on our team have skyrocketed, though we have 25% fewer people. Yes, I have "Chief" in front of my title. But I have little influence as to the size of my budget or my team. And I'm not insulated from my team, I spend most days speaking with my team members on a variety of items, from Directors to Assistants. Senior management typically makes decisions on compensation, hiring/firing/RIFs/furloughs and budgets. I just have to carry out those decisions and live with the aftermath.

[Mick]

Based on the number of people Mick has had to fire, I assume he is part of the "managerial elite" in his company. And I'm guessing his salary is six figures, so he's also part of the upper middle class elite. So is he part of the problem, making choices for workers that he himself is insulated from? 

I don't make the choices and I'm not insulated from my team. I'm the middleman, forced to execute choices that are inflicted upon me from above. Not surprisingly, the demands on our team have skyrocketed, though we have 25% fewer people. Yes, I have "Chief" in front of my title. But I have little influence as to the size of my budget or my team. And I'm not insulated from my team, I spend most days speaking with my team members on a variety of items, from Directors to Assistants. Senior management typically makes decisions on compensation, hiring/firing/RIFs/furloughs and budgets. I just have to carry out those decisions and live with the aftermath.