How was this a surprise to anyone with more than three braincells?

But I guess it is good to have this study to point to in your workplace, instead of just seeing that it is self evident.

i don't think it's that self-evident - many people believe on some level that these hierarchies (like in the workplace i mean), so i think it can be useful to point out the self-reinforcing bs-generating structure and that bullshit from above is still bullshit