This is the minimal response I would expect from anybody in the company. We shouldn't applaud this behavior as some kind of exemplary gift from the corporation.

This is the minimal response I would expect from anybody in the company. We shouldn't applaud this behavior as some kind of exemplary gift from the corporation. Why? Because it normalizes the chain-of-command, rules-are-rules way that we typically see. It makes it seem OK that someone wouldn't grant this request. In fact, he probably shouldn't even have to ask.