"Severance" reveals Lumon Industries' unsettling departmental functions

The show "Severance" on Apple TV+ explores a chilling workplace called the Severed Floor at Lumon Industries. Here, employees have their work memories separated from their personal lives due to a surgical chip. Each department within the Severed Floor has a specific role. However, the true nature of their work is often hidden from both employees and viewers. This secrecy adds to the show's intrigue. In Season 2, viewers learn more about the unsettling realities of Lumon. Each department operates under a structured system, illustrating the company’s experimental goals. For example, the Macrodata Refinement department seems simple but plays a crucial role in processing data that affects real people in testing scenarios. The files they manage correspond to rooms where human subjects, like Mark's wife Gemma, undergo psychological experiments. The Testing Floor, which is below the Severed Floor, reveals its sinister purpose. Here, test subjects are subjected to extreme psychological stress, linked to the files processed by Macrodata Refinement. Each room triggers unique traumatic experiences for the subjects. The Optics and Design department, which appears to maintain artwork, produces objects used in the Testing Floor. This includes items that create stressful environments for test subjects. Meanwhile, the Mammalians Nurturable department raises baby goats, which are later sacrificed as part of Lumon’s secretive rituals. Other departments include Choreography and Merriment, where employees perform music and dance, and Administration, which oversees the operations on the Severed Floor. The Security Office manages surveillance, ensuring strict control over the environment, while the Wellness Center was designed to support employees emotionally but hid monitoring devices. The Perpetuity Wing acts as a museum honoring Lumon's founder, showcasing his life and contributions. Overall, "Severance" continues to unravel complex themes about corporate control and individual identity. Each department plays a part in the unsettling picture of Lumon's operations.