I was trying to say they don't seem racist or discriminating to me. They just want to save as much as possible. But they seem rather oblivious to the fact the system is set in a bit demotivating way.

Of course that's not racist, despite the efforts to frame that as such.

Companies behave that way to _everyone_, get used to that. When you negotiate your salary, you have your mouth. Use it. You are the only person, who really cares, whether you earn adequately to what you bring to the table.

I would characterize it not as "whatever" but more like, "yeah, we already knew that Oracle is the worst employer in the industry"

They need to LeetCode and go work elsewhere, if they want to come back then Oracle will pay them market rates.

No. If you leave and come back within 2 years (I think), you get the same as you had before you had left.

If a company wants you they will pay you market rates, you may need to present them with competing offers if you don't want to be lowballed.

They don't give a ... You are just a number. Even if the hiring manager really wants you, s/he is not given the budget, so they are powerless.