Came across a similar thing some years ago when some mates wanted me to go to the Munich beer festival with them and I was on SGF. They couldn't really see why I couldn't just say 'no'.
3 or 4 years ago we were sent a CD Rom containing video interviews with members of the public about the armed forces. The level of ignorance displayed was quite apalling but, on reflection, unsurprising.
To most civilians their job is just that, their job. They go to work do it and then go home. If they want to get on or earn more money they stay later, do overtime, get themselves noticed or whatever. The notion of their employer holding any authority over them outside of their job is non-existant and why should it be otherwise I suppose? Many civilians struggle to cope when faced with ANY authority at all, even a simple parking fine or speeding ticket can elicit a quite dispproportionate response!