Hard work is detrimental.
An exchange of health for whatever the payment is.
The story is a good metaphor for employment.
The lower level managers want to increase the productivity of their workers.
I think higher level managers whom reached shareholder level want the same.
Those above shareholders, the ones owning corporations and benefiting regardless of some individual corporations' outcomes care not about the output, but for them the employment itself is the goal, as it keeps their livestock too busy, as explained by holocaust denier Eustance Mullins:

So for them, it is just as good if the lumberjack has his axe worn.
They will have whatever supply of lumber they need, regardless of how well a certain lumberjack does.
It is their lieutenants' job to care for it.