Punishment of Employees

Wandering around the other day, in the Post Office, in stores, going to the bank, I was struck by how few people were given stools. In Europe, even store clerks get stools. I guess the theory in the US is that if you put your employees into pain and discomfort in their customer-facing jobs, they will be more effective - more cheerful, helpful. Perhaps the assumption is that employees deserve punishment for being employees, or perhaps that they are masochists who will work harder if they are being whipped. While totally contrary to all the motivation theory so eagerly adopted by business, it continues.