Do you think there is an equation where the larger the company the more they treat the employees like toddlers? I've primarily worked for small companies where management treated the employees like adults. They expected us to be professionals so they treated us as such. Sometimes that meant they provided just enough rope for someone to hang themselves but for the most part, it worked pretty well.
As I've moved to bigger companies it seems as though management treats the employees more and more like children. The HR department is especially notorious for treating people like toddlers. I find it odd and a bit frustrating. I don't think I could be easily convinced that anyone within my team, department, or adjacent departments could be equated to children yet the actions and tone of management makes me think otherwise.