Worked for a Canadian grocery store and this mentality was prevalent in all management and many of the long time employees.
There were no raises negotiable, you recieved just above minimum wage, with one pay increase per year and the raise was something like 15 cents.
The department managers would say it's such a great company and if you stay here for 5 years you could be doing their job.
Later saw an indeed posting for their department manager position and saw the pay, it was in the realm of $23-26/hr (keep in mind this is CAD)
I quit and went to college for 1 single year, got a certificate that allowed me to enter a new job.
Now I make more than those department managers, only took one year lol.
I honestly feel bad for the people who have been there for half their lives because they probably don't realize how little they are actually being given.