Context:
I (20s female, Europe) am learning a trade that pays well during learning compared to other trades but due to rising prices I got a second job in a small shop.
The owner started hiring several people bc he and his daughter couldn't do it alone anymore. I'm working 8 hour shifts on weekends while learning my trade during the week (40hours + commute).
Now my country is raising the minimum wage by roughly 2€ this October. I'm thrilled. My boss is not. He's otherwise very nice but this made me raise eyebrows. He told me how he needs every penny bc the government takes so much and we want pay too. He explained his expenses and how he doesn't know how the government can possibly expect small business owners like him to pay this much. I just nodded, thinking “you shouldn't own a business then”. Idgaf.
It's just funny bc I work TWO jobs, he knows this but he expects sympathy from me, a struggling 20yo, that is moving together with her bf bc of finances (BOSS KNOWS). I'm cackling.