He was pointing to a chart illustrating the hierarchical relationship between the foreman and the worker.

NEWYORKER: Not So Fast

Re-contracting relationship ground rules is necessary, because in the aftermath of a promotion social and hierarchical relationship dynamics will inevitably shift.

FORBES: Promoted Over Your Peers? Now That's Awkward

Formal religion, meanwhile, is supposed to have appeared only after agriculture produced such hierarchical social relations as required a cosmic backstory to keep them going and supplied a template for the power relationship between gods and mortals.

NEWYORKER: The Sanctuary