That’s sad. But, it’s tolerated, so...
“...with more than half a dozen allegedly performing the work that had been done by three men when I started there years ago...”
If you ever look at LinkedIn, Facebook, etc., and see the titles that the majority of (((them))) have, the titles are pure examples of “corporate nothing speak”. And since said employees do absolutely nothing, it’s a very symbiotic setup.
“As long as I can take my foot off the gas to meet the lowered expectations, that is fine with me; I’m getting’ paid!”
At the end of the day, that’s all that matters - the green.
Sure; I watch some of these older guys retire, and I’m so happy for them. The damage is felt immediately, and they don’t even respond to outreach by the fake workers moved into their positions. I just keep my eyes on that finish line (while keeping them peeled for other opportunities), but I’m still decades away. It is an odd way to work; years ago it was a mission that consumed 60+ hours per week, now it is a 40-hour “job”.