The power imbalance inherent in the expectation that you prove you're 'good enough' to a functionary who has the ability to determine if you have money to buy food or not sounds like a deeply unpleasant scenario to me.
You've essentially described how employment works, and yes, it can be rather unpleasant.
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You've essentially described how employment works, and yes, it can be rather unpleasant.
Yes, both of those scenarios involve a power imbalance when none need exist. That's what labor organization is for.
Can't say I disagree!
Honestly, that is not how employment works in most of the (civilized) world. In the US, sure, but elsewhere we do have labor laws that matter.