My biased thoughts on this are Yes they are heartless and the way they treat employees is either lack of caring or downright cruelty, ive seen machines be treated better but thats simply because the machine has a pricetag where as they can ignore employees until they are burnt out, then terminate them for the smallest inconvenience.
Tbh i do actually really want to find a place like the two good ones you mentioned to work at, it feels so hopeless with all of my experience of working either being just a number or the guy to unload all the work on without any benefits.