A layoff fundamentally changed how I perceive work

> You are nothing but slave labor

This is an absurd and out of touch thing to say to a crowd mostly made up of highly paid engineers.

This is a very negative to look at employment in general:

Whatever the skill - pushing rocks up a hill or pushing code into a repo - someone with power over you is taking half your waking day to generate disproportionate compensation.

I personally see the alternative viewpoint which is I am able to provide for my entire family a life of non-work because I sacrifice 50% of what would be idle time without them.

Ultimately you need something to do during your waking hours. I give 50% to the company and 50% to my family.

Historically the slaves of the ultrawealthy often lived much better lives than common free people.

No it is not, just because one slave is paid more than another slave it does not make the former a less of a slave.

But it's good that you think that way. Keeps the system going. We need more of you guys.