I'm not sure exactly why buybacks get so much more hate than dividends. If these stock buybacks didn't happen the profits would have been returned to investors in the form of dividends. This would not have increased worker wages either. Any argument against buybacks can also be made of dividends.
Aren't dividends better because you get to keep your shares? An employee who needs to increase their earning by selling ownership of a company risks losing the continued stream that they'd collect via dividends. If I get dividends, I may not be so inclined to dump my stock for short term gains.