But unlike prison you get paid and you can ultimately just quit and find something else to do

Well getting to go home is huge upside. No free meals and you have to pretend to do something anyway though. Win some, lose some.

You've clearly never worked Hospitality:

"If you've got time to lean, you've got time to clean"

till

'til

IBM used to do this. A friend my mine was caught up when her employer was bought-out while she was on maternity leave. She came back to a desk but no work, no role, and no access to computers. She had NOTHING on her list and no way to do it. She wasn't allowed to go home, but had to sit there.

She read. She knitted. She counted the hours until she was back home with the family and kids. Finally after about 10 months, she gave in and got another job. And IBM didn't have to pay severance.

I enjoyed reading this https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bullshit_Jobs

I think this feeling is used as firing practice in Japan called Oidashibeya.