They know exactly how little money that is. Poor employees are the fuel for the American economy. We work ourselves to death, desperate for the chance to "earn a living" and too tired to fight for an actual fair wage. If people aren't working too hard, they might get educations, they might find creative outlets, or engage in the civic and political processes. That shit is reserved for the rich, and they like it that way.

15 grand divided by 12 months = 1,250 dollars a month. Average rent is $1,713 nation-wide for an average apartment size of 900 sq. ft. There's definitely variation and this is a simplification, but it should still be noted only 14 states have an average rent below 1,250/month and only Oklahoma has an average below 1k. I'm sure there are lots of exceptions (rural areas come to mind), but stats say in much of the USA you'll find a poverty line of 15,000 doesn't even cover monthly rent for a 20ft x 45ft space, much less food, transportation, etc.

If I made 31k - after taxes, rent, health insurance, and utilities there would be almost nothing left for anything else, including food.

I make just under 70k and am the sole income for a family of 5. It's just enough to afford the essentials since the cost of groceries has gotten so damn high, and any attempts to save money are thwarted by the disaster of the month - which is usually an unexpected car repair, appliance repair/replacement, medical expenses, etc.