There are many definitions of "slavery", which is commonly described as "the state of being under the control of another person" and "slavery is a social-economic system under which certain persons — known as slaves — are deprived of personal freedom and compelled to perform labor or services. The term also refers to the status or condition of those persons, who are treated as the property of another person or household". Of course, slavery also implies harsh conditions with  little or no remuneration for services rendered, but whichever way you look at it, it comes down to subjecting a person to the will of the stronger (more powerful and wealthier) party.

As a result of this mindset, workers/employees are not considered as trusted stakeholders to be facilitated in a synergistic drive towards common goals as much as they're considered to be expendable working parts required to drive someone else's agenda. Here, it's certainly not a case of "let us all hold hands as equals among equals, each doing what s/he does best, in support of our common agenda"

In Plato's "Republic" (that advocates a system where rulers are philosophers and philosophers are rulers), this topic is taken up in a discussion between Socrates and Thrasymarcus. I believe that Thrasymarcus represents the corporate 'top-down' mindset, while Socrates represents the ideal "all in it together" mindset.

Thrasymarchus believes "justice is nothing other than the advantage or will of the stronger party" where rulers act in their own interests rather than for their subjects. "The ruler is like a shepherd, tending his flock, not for the good of the sheep, for he hopes eventually to eat them, but for his own good". Socrates counters this argument with a few examples such as medicine that helps the patient not the doctor; therefore rulership helps the subjects. Plato then made Socrates reply that rulers are professionals working for the good of the community, as doctors work to improve their patients' health.

I believe that feelings of slavery lie at the root of any employee dissatisfaction; things like financial remuneration, conditions of work, trust, recognition, progress, job security, self-image and all those other attributes that employed people consider when trying to understand what it is that bothers them in their place of work, are in fact attributes that are gauged and weighted in relation to  "slavery vs. justice - Socrates' style." Companies that go out of their way to ensure that their employees will never feel like slaves and instead, feel like stakeholders, will ultimately enjoy the best giving their best.