I understand your disdain, so long as you blame corporate, not the employee. Most companies force employees to give that specific greeting. Failure to do so often comes with consequences. When I get a "How are you" or "How's it going" I realize that the employee, who has to greet hundreds of people a day, doesn't really care about me, but I try to respond with a little humor or something to make them smile. These moments, however brief, are often a win win all the way around.