At what imaginary time in history did owners and management consider themselves part of an "us" with workers? Maybe in some rare, contained instances. You can't take a step "down" from something that simply doesn't exist.
Many family businesses are "us", at least in the good times. Non-family employed by those businesses are seldom under any illusions about being included in that...
Those can last for decades, however. A profitable family business is less likely to get bought out and fire everyone. No one's job is safe in an unprofitable business, family or not.
