As an employee, I want my employer to see me as an employee. Because I damn sure view them as an employer.

This is a good baseline for a working relationship. They can be a good employer, with good salary and decent benefits. They can treat their employees fairly, offer some okay work-life balance, etc

And as an employee, I can be a good one. Always being professional and polite, striving to keep a healthy environment among the workforce, and using my skills effectively to help the business while doing my job.

Seeing each other as a commodity is fine. My worst job experience was in a startup that really didn't see things this way.