In business, the hardest thing in the world to do is to fire somebody. I guess it's only to be expected that cowards-at-heart have found this new, distant, non-messy means to rid themselves of an employee an absolute godsend. We find similar behavior in trolls, another source of cowardice. This was a tough piece to read, because it makes the blood boil. I hope your personal counsel finds its way in. The alternative is too often a horrible lashing out in frustrated hopelessness.