> I am obviously not disputing your experience, but wanted to mention that this was not the standard pattern. The standard pattern for forced conversion at L6 (Staff) was either 6 or 7 reports (I don't remember exactly).

Given more reports and forced to be on the EM track.

I think 4 is still OK for L6 (L7 can have up to 19!).

> I don't want to be overly pedantic, but there's no Principal EM on Google eng ladders and so it's not entirely clear which level you're referring to.

I meant L7 EM - I have no idea why I wrote Principal (probably because I was moving too fast), and now it's too late to edit.