"The hardest thing to hide is something that is not there."

Eric Hoffer

Picture this. A new CEO is now at the helm of a major company and sends an email to all company employees requesting that they describe precisely their function at the company, what they are most proud of having accomplished there, and any suggestions they have for improving the company.  And then, the employees not only refuse to comply, but instead, backed by their union, attempt to portray the request as some sort of threat.  What is any reasonable person to make of it?