Employee priority over CPU for paid tickets on empty business seats?

Is it really the policy that employees get first dibs on business seats before CPU for even 1K on a paid ticket?

Flying soon domestically, EWR to IAH. Business had only 10 of 20 seats booked last night, 3 days before flight. This morning, 2 days before, flight 15 seats are booked, but no one cleared from upgrade. Turns out they were given to employees. I am 1k and #1 on upgrade list and was not cleared 48 hours before despite 10 seats available, but five were given to employees.

Bad enough they'd rather sell the upgrade for peanuts before upgrading long term loyal customers, but at least UAL is getting some cash for that. But here it's given to someone not paying vs paying customers. At some point what's even the point of promoting CPU as a perk?