The CPE shocked people by :

• the extension to a time limit that goes far beyond the period needed by an employer to evaluate a new employee, (and was therefore felt as a statement of intention to move gradually towards an employment "at will" system)
  
• the fact that an age group was targeted, (making them feel they were going to be on the receiving end of this gradual move to "at will" in years to come)
  
• the absence of any preliminary dialogue, (giving them the impression of being pushed around by an authoritarian wannabe "leader").