He worked his fingers to the bone
A: Good morning Mr. Park, did you get the news about the personnel reshuffle?
B: Yes, Mr. Sung told me about that. When I heard the company is planning to farm Mr. Kim out to the Busan branch, I couldn't believe my ears.
A: to tell the truth, I was more than a little surprise at the news. I don't understand why the company announced this appointment to Busan, so far from headquarters. I thought you'd be promoted to director at this time.
B: Search me. There's no telling what happens in the future. You know, I thought the company would show some of us the door but it didn't. That's the bright side.
A: Yeah, I know. But they went too far this time. Mr. Kim did whatever it took for this company to succeed. He worked his fingers to the bone. I bet there's no one who knows more than him when it comes to marketing.
B: That's the company policy. They switch people around from time to time to stimulate them.
A: It seems more like an exercise in futility to me.
