I don't disagree at all. I also know it isn't this simple but in my mind it's roughly: Hey entry level worker. 2 years ago we (company) would have paid you $12

I don't disagree at all. I also know it isn't this simple but in my mind it's roughly: Hey entry level worker. 2 years ago we (company) would have paid you $12/hr. Now you have made it (by not applying for our open positions we need filled/quitting over time) that you refuse to work for less than $14/hr. That's a 16% increase in our payroll. That's fine! We'll just charge 16% more for our product and the entire thing will be "put off" by the customer who will front the bill. Our bottom line is unaffected and the entire thing is a passthrough for us.