I'm sure if you have a 'specific' complaint you face the employer with it and it gets dealt with. I do tend to think it's only the employees of a specific company with a specific complaint that can do anything, you try, it doesn't change to your satisfaction, so you leave. If you want to work elsewhere in the industry and want a reference you might need to be a little cautious with comments about your previous employer. Thats just how it works in most tiny industries with a small workforce. I'm not sure there is 'another way' as you put it.