Undoubtably that's a problem, I agree. Competent management helps minimise that, though. And I would not agree that the majority is existance justification. Then again, I'll disclaim that by saying I work in a Mech Eng. role, where process for safety's sake has been established and engrainedi nto the culture for literal centuries.

A good employment environment is one where you may ask why a process exists and receive valid justifications therein, but where the idea of not following it, no matter how bad, never crosses your mind. I acknowledge I'm really lucky to work in an industry that doesn't fall too far from that target.