I would want the surgeon of 12 years, on the proviso that I imagine (having no idea) that a surgeon by then would be some sort of senior surgeon. If they are still a surgeon-under-supervision (or whatever the surgeon's equivalent is) I would take my chances with the 3 year rookie. There's obviously something going on that the veteran still has 3 year status despite being 12 years on the tools.
I'm sorry you think this is a strawman, but I'm just addressing the scenario you originally posed.
I still can't see what you think would be fairer - the labour market is always going to be subject to demand and supply dynamics. I believe a fair minimum wage should be established (and seriously enforced) for every job, but if employers want to pay above that to attract what they perceive is a better quality of applicant I don't have a problem.
Where it gets admittedly weird is comparing two otherwise equal employees, fully remote - why the company cares where they live is a mystery for them to answer, but considering that wages aren't really a zero sum game, isn't this a case of some employees earning more as much as it is of some earning less (being that all these jobs are above minimum wage, so the question of what a SWE, for example is "worth" is even more at the mercy of the market)?
I'm sorry you think this is a strawman, but I'm just addressing the scenario you originally posed.
I still can't see what you think would be fairer - the labour market is always going to be subject to demand and supply dynamics. I believe a fair minimum wage should be established (and seriously enforced) for every job, but if employers want to pay above that to attract what they perceive is a better quality of applicant I don't have a problem.
Where it gets admittedly weird is comparing two otherwise equal employees, fully remote - why the company cares where they live is a mystery for them to answer, but considering that wages aren't really a zero sum game, isn't this a case of some employees earning more as much as it is of some earning less (being that all these jobs are above minimum wage, so the question of what a SWE, for example is "worth" is even more at the mercy of the market)?