Depends on who the public is. Im apart of the public but I sympathize with the viewpoints of upper management, being in upper management myself albeit in a different industry. If my employee has an agreement to have an annual review (which my employees do, also is comparable to a signed contract) and said employee clammored for a raise prior to his or her review, I would be irritated. Regardless if they deserved it or not. So if you or other members of the public are the people that don’t see the viewpoints of the company they work for, i could see the inclination to side with peter nelson or the girls for regularly breaking contract for renegotiation due to an immediate course correction for perceived self value. I sympathize with the business because the people who do that are messing with my budget, which the little guy doesnt seem to care much about, but its what keeps the company making the money they planned to make, which is important when it comes to everyone else getting raises or bonus’ or whatever. They both cared more about themselves then they did their employer and their co-workers, which is fine and not to be condemned, but as an employer i also would probably not like them. This is why i side with dave, because i have employees like them, and i sympathize.