I think employers exaggerate their willingness to fire you. It’s risky for them. For example, they can’t fire everybody, so after they fire one person, the next

I think employers exaggerate their willingness to fire you. It’s risky for them. For example, they can’t fire everybody, so after they fire one person, the next one should be proportionally less afraid of working less. You’re also not limited to one job. Even people in economically disadvantaged positions can usually get another one if needed. In other words, it’s precisely this fear that employers are counting on. Speaking from experience, once you face it, it tends to evaporate.