Here’s my thing: Ok, let’s say I run a store and I decide to basically be a dick and say “Ok, I’m going to pay EVERYONE who works for me minimum wage and that’s it!”.

Sure, I’d save a ton of money on payroll, but then I’d be stuck with employees who don’t really give a shit (because I pay them so little) and as a result they won’t be working hard to get sales (costing me money), they won’t care about the accuracy of inventory (creating loss and costing me money), they won’t feel obligated to do anything to stop shoplifting (costing me money) and, paying those wages, I’d probably have a reasonably high turnover (costing me money).

Seems to me it would make more sense to pay decent wages to hire in and retain a competent work force to benefit me in the long term than it would to cut wages to the bone which would help me in the short term but ultimately do more harm than good.