I understand that it is standard, it's just a fallacy used to justify not paying people enough.
No, it's just a term. Nobody thinks they are paid "enough." I'm not paid enough. That's life. It's a grind.
Unless someone got a great job right out of college and has no idea what it's like to struggle or live off an "unskilled" job. They might think everyone should have their matching experience even if the others don't have the experience to match.
Businesses, at least small ones, are not hoarding money on the side that they are holding back from salaries. It's not Scrooge McDuck. It's trying to balance fair prices for customers against rising costs of goods, rents, and payroll. Payroll is typically the single largest controllable expense - that's why it's hit when cuts are needed. Why are cuts needed? **Because you have to pay the bills** and circumstances are fluid and constantly changing.
It's different for larger, especially publicly traded businesses like Disney; they have the added variables of stock prices and Boards - not to mention CEO and other upper management salaries. There may be more mud to sling at them when it comes to these things, but they still go through ups and downs and expanding/contracting.
But making rules with only Disney, Walmart, and McDonald's in mind is horrible for Main Street businesses. They are nowhere near on the same playing field.
"Well I think everyone should make enough to pay the (non-constant) rent, even if they are a bagger at Publix, without a second job" is like saying, "Well I think it should never rain."
