If you can't find a better job, you should probably appreciate the one you have and not try to skate by with the bare minimum, if for no other reason than you're likely to miscalculate at some point.

That’s just another way of saying work harder for same pay because the company knows they have you by the balls.

No, it's recognizing you have no better alternative so you shouldn't take what you do have for granted, because it's not guaranteed to continue.

"Beatings will continue until morale improves."