Foreman

People in power need persons who get things done. And in every hierarchy there are more than two levels — those at the top use a foreman to control and manage the others. People who had slaves to work the fields or mines used slaves who were put in charge of overseeing the rest. These foremen received perhaps a bed instead of sleeping in a group; they got the first portion of the slaves' food — but not the same food their owner ate. Perhaps they could have some of that food as a gift when they reached a milestone, but it could not be always. The separation was always maintained. The foreman received very little and made promises to serve and control others — but he would never become one of the owners. Sociologists call this the intermediary class — close enough to power to enforce it, far enough away to never share it.

Similar structures are still present today. There may be a few exceptions, and these exceptions are used as the promises and small rewards that motivate foremen to follow orders and act as the middle layer that does what the upper class wants. They even protect those above them by their own initiative. They are an indispensable part of keeping hierarchies in place. And they have the power to tip the balance in favour of the top or the bottom.