Sounds like you were pushed into a corner alright, I wonder what a HR organisation’s reply would be if you asked them what you should do in that kind of situation?

They’re hardly likely to go up against the CEO since that’s where their wages come from and, as you say, they’d probably be let go themselves!

I’ll ask a few HR people I know, for fun, what they’d do — perhaps we all should just the next company question and answer sessions…