I'm not sure why you got downvoted, but I have to agree. At least a couple of employers I had in smaller towns in the midwest would treat employees like proper

I'm not sure why you got downvoted, but I have to agree. At least a couple of employers I had in smaller towns in the midwest would treat employees like property, and would assume you would never (or be able to) leave. "You should be grateful to even have a job" was common.