> Shareholders can be forced to go in their pockets

no they cannot. Shareholders can only lose at most the capital they put in originally - they cannot be liable for additional debt.

> the owner is not also bankrupt, they can be forced to pay employees.

That would be because the owner mixed their own personal wealth with their business (e.g., as a single entity), instead of a limited liability company. Therefore, any assets the owner has is subject to be sold to pay the debt of the business. It's why only small businesses, owned by a single owner (who would have nothing else) is done this way (cheaper administratively i presume).