After reading this article
Why would anyone want to work for Amazon?
Its simple really, you're desperate for money, and need a job.... you dont care what sort of job, so long as it pays.
Hence people will put up with all sorts of abuse from the manglement because they need the money
After all, how many of us have wanted the PHB to be mangled by a robot/fed into the paper shredder/walked into that open lift shaft/ lent on the window after the BOFH 'fixed' it (delete as applicable)
As for treating people like crap, I found out a long time ago that you get better results with carrots rather than using a bigger stick.... because the bigger the stick, the less people will do for you...