According to Q Managers, they are unable to progress because of difficult employee. Now after 5 years since they laid off difficult employee, still they have issue. Now they have nothing to blame on or are they still trying to formulate some story to blame on something outside?
Managers think - if you are not moving yourself, then only way to move ahead is to cut other's heads to look yourself tall, keep people they supervise in past, keep them below you all time to survive yourself. If you cant do any of these, fire them.