Perhaps by asserting the OP is trying to "exploit" the situation by not wanting to pay Google wage rates at their small business?
I'm not sure I understand why the business owner "deserves" to take the financial hit for the sake of a new employee. The market will sort it out.
Business owner is using a turtle strategy. Opportunistic yes but also seeing people as numbers on a spreadsheet.
OP stated that he feels fear. Fear is a reasonable reaction when a Business Owner closes doors for conversation to wait out catching google 'talent' at a bargain.
Some people are in a situation where they need work now or very soon.
Looking at numbers in spreadsheets is how you stay in business.
>Some people are in a situation where they need work now or very soon.
Then they should lower their rates until they find a market clearing salary.
I'm flabbergasted at the argument that a business should pay a potential employee whatever they demand, because that person "needs work". It flies in the face of all logic.
That wasn't the argument.
I think the general issue with my post is that the moderators want this to be a "place of ideas". So that tends towards the appearance of decorum being more important here than actually treating people better in the current crisis.