Earlier quoted context omitted.
why on earth would they owe anything to the company?
Jesus Christ. Because people worked under and followed the for the better years of their life to make them rich? Because the people you work with are more important than the work you do? Because when you form a relationship with someone, contractually, business, or otherwise, you do, in fact owe them something, be it money, respect, or even some simple common decency.
if you work for someone, do you owe them anything? beyond a customary standard of duty and notice of departure from employment?