[sameoldtune]

In the remote era this is the only way that 2nd level managers can exert authority. In the office they have a nicer desk and eat lunch with a different crowd so you know they hold power.

If it makes you feel any better the director is doing exactly the same thing to them.

[poincaredisk]

I'm sorry for your experience with second level managers. For me they were all very chill and friendly, so it's definitely not a hard rule that all higher managers are bad.

[llamaimperative]

"In the remote era"? You're both talking about people being in-office, i.e. not remote.

This is a typical mode of failure in management and it far predates remote work.