Cobel was Robbed Twice
Severance is called a “transformative technology” (S1E9) and a “revolutionary medical procedure” (S2E6). Both Lumon and the severance procedure are a household name, being talked about over (non) dinner parties (S1E1), on the streets (S1E2), and on the news (S1E3). Jame Eagan, who is known for inventing the severance chip, is viewed as a “remarkable man” (S1E3) by Kier believers.
The true inventor, Harmony Cobel, was forced to keep quiet about it under threat of banishment and out of true belief for Kier’s principles (S2E8). Instead of receiving recognition for her contributions, this loyalty led to nothing but belittlement by Lumon higher-ups. Her new office is “horrid” (S1E1); her knowledge about reintegration is disregarded (S1E3); and her rightfully wanting to see her project through to the end is called nothing more than “arrogance” (S2E3). Although leader-in-waiting Helena Eagan claims that Harmony’s “expertise is greatly valued” (S2E2), she later tells Harmony that she’s “overestimated her contributions” (S2E3).
The first (public) severed office opened 12 years ago (S2E6). Throughout all of that, Harmony never wavered in her loyalty to Kier and Lumon. She told no one that Jame was lying about his inventing the severance chip, not even her family (S2E8). When she was fired for keeping secrets and inserting herself into Mark’s outie’s life, without even being given the chance to explain herself, her faith in Kier wavered briefly. She destroyed her Kier shrine and encouraged Mark to quit his job, knowing he was key for Lumon’s plan (S1E8).
That hesitation didn’t last long. That very same night she was the only person to realize that the overtime contingency was triggered and she went above and beyond to notify her replacement and confront Helly R before Helena’s scheduled speech promoting severance (S1E9). Without her quick reaction, that night would have resulted in disaster for Lumon (S2E2).
The thanks she gets is to be offered a made up position on the newly formed Severance Advisory Council (S2E2). When she doesn’t meekly accept that and instead demands to “finish the work that [she] started”, Helena instead offers to “reset” (S2E3). Had Harmony gone with Helena that night, she would have been granted forgiveness and shown mercy - in the form of death (S2E8).
The full impact of Helena’s refusal to rehire Harmony as the severed floor manager isn’t revealed until Seth Milchick’s first performance review. “Mark Scout's completion of Cold Harbor will be remembered as one of the greatest moments in the history of this planet.” This milestone event will now be taking place under Seth’s stewardship, who’s been floor manager for less than a month and has already made several missteps causing delays. (S2E5). These issues were predicted by Harmony, who knew that Seth wasn’t “equipped for the task” (S2E3), but her expertise and concerns were dismissed yet again.
Not only did Lumon steal credit for Harmony’s transformative and revolutionary invention, they now intend to negate her years of devotion and dedication, snatching her legacy away right as the project’s completion is finally in sight.