As someone approaching 50 years old, "workplace like they're going into battle with evil managers", not sure where you are located, but in southern europe countries it has always been like this, regardless of the job.

That is why many countries still have a strong union culture, everyone gets exploited to the bones and they should be happy to have a job if at all.

It is quite depressing sadly, but that is what happens when many managers lack business education and see employees as replacable cogs without rights.