"Any profit-driven company would literally feed its employees into a meat grinder if it were not illegal and it made the stock price or valuation go up."

This is uncomfortably true, at least for too many companies.

Unfortunately, though, our society lets them get away with it. Too many people are willing to just shrug and say "that's business" and act like there's simply no other way to be.

Yeah... Investors should wise-up to top top management that specialize in destroying every form of non-tangible capital for short term gains, banking in a commission, and moving to a healthier company.

But well, in practice "investor" is really a name for powerless people whose money is managed by those same people applying the con. So I don't think they will wise-up any soon.

You're ignoring that people may be able to get other jobs while employed so treating people well is a part of it.