You're right that businesses presently are not charities or good-will missions, but perhaps they should be. The way most businesses are currently run (ie, as profit mills chasing growth at any cost) is detrimental to the environment, society, and the economy itself. Business for its own sake is stupid AF.

I would not necessarily dispute any of that, but it does contravene the assumptions from which the owners of most businesses are proceeding, not to mention their investors, shareholders and board members. :-)

Why not go and start your ideal business then?

I understand, and as a development manager who needs to hire and retain technical employees i'd rather make the case to pay an extra 10-20k a year for a well-performing employee rather both risk losing someone for an intermittent or extended amount of time (clear value lost) and than spend time retraining someone (more value lost). All of which lowers productivity and hits the bottom line. Also takes a hit on team morale.

It could also be an opportunity to add valuable responsibilities to the employees role to justify the increase in wages, if thats applicable to the situation. Win-win for everyone.