Maybe he is overpaid versus others in the field? Maybe he is producing less? Maybe the business is looking at productivity and it isn’t at the level they reasonably expect? ( not saying he is, just using theoreticals)
But dishonest? Thats a new way of looking at it for me.
I honestly don’t understand, it sounds like they were very upfront and honest with him and asking him to take on more versus just dropping it on him with no explanation or warning?