It is purely business, and nothing else. But I have never heard that people should be grateful.
References :

You act as if it’s only "corporations" that do this.

This is such a thing as a business that is not incorporated. Have you ever heard of a sole proprietorship? They do it too.

As a matter of fact, your boss did it to you… or are you not employed? If you hate this situation so bad, why don’t you just go off and start your own business?

(If you did that, you’d be a conservative after the very first tax season you live through.)
References :

Make me money, I pay you for it. Follow my rules and contribute to success, you get a raise and/or promotion if applicable. Where’s the confusion?
References :

why shouldn’t they be grateful….?

sounds like an all-too-typical attitude from the entitlement generation…

maybe because those corporations could just as easily make the "business decision" to send them packing…..You do know that it works both ways, don’t you? I mean you act like the employee is doing the company a big favor just by showing up five days a week.
References :

Absolutely! And what is wrong with that? When ANY employer hires you, it is exactly the same thing. They are expecting a return on their money. To take it further, when a client hires my company, or any other company, to provide a service, they are expecting it to be worth their while. They are going to get something they need to make a profit. And I’m glad they are doing it. Otherwise, I’d be unemployed.

Do you think that you going to work for a corporation is doing them a favor? Some act of kindness? You are always free to do just like I did and start your own business.
References :

In either case that is precisely what they would have you think. If I may add, that is what they would try and convince the government of so that they could be taxed as a charity or non-profit.
References :
yowtrftu

Just not the corporations—all business does it. Why would a owner pay a salary to someone if that employee does increase profits? Thats why a person starts a business–to make profit. I wish this government would manage itself like the successful businesses across our country has done because we wouldnt be in this debt like we are. The increase of the size government in the last 15-20 years is unbelievable–it has to stop
References :

You are 100% correct. There is always an employment "contract" whereby there is a service performed and consideration paid.

I think at least part of the other perception comes from the assumed power of a corporation and the opposite for an individual. If workers have confidence in themselves and their abilities, it can be a completely different relationship i.e. the corporation needs to work hard, reward well to keep me because I am valuable and have skills that are in demand.

How many people realise that at an interview they should also be interviewing the business to find out if there is a good match and they will be happy working there?

It is probably just part of the bigger issue where western societies hold up big corporations as the be all and end all. We have corporatised just about everything, despite the fact that they are mostly inefficient, have unhealthy cultures, and deliver lower quality goods and services than small businesses.

We’ve even corporatised government. Big business contributes and lobbies, so government is now just an extension of them – no more representation of the people.

EDIT: Just about everyone else that has answered seems to have misunderstood your question … the key word being "grateful". It is a contract and BOTH sides need to deliver. There is a real perception that it is one way in favour of the corporations.
References :
Worked in worldwide corporations, medium sized and small businesses, including consulting. Worked in Recruitment and psychometric testing. Research.

employers DO see it solely as an act of charity. they figure if they can convince you that you’re nothing more than a worthless parasite sucking the lifeblood out of their generous company without giving anything in return, the harder you’ll work to prove them wrong.

it’s a delicate balancing act, though. if they push TOO hard, the employee might just up and quit. when unemployment is running at 10%, though, they can just about get away with murder.

remember the ‘labor shortage’ of the ’90’s? employers tip-toed around like they were walking on eggshells in comparison to today. that’s why high unemployment has such a tremendous psychologically beneficial effect on management. it removes the stress that’s created by restraining themselves from their natural behavior. they can act more normally.
References :