Possibly. But that's a different issue. The owners of the company, unlike the employees, have invested their personal hard-earned savings in the venture. It's their responsibility to be monitoring management to make sure that funds are spent appropriately.

Not as simple as that. A founder invests his savings, but that might be less than the total salary difference for employees and the market rate. So they have given up more than he has invested, but for a fraction of a fraction of his stake. How is that a sensible deal for them? There needs to be some balance.

"A founder invests his savings, but that might be less than the total salary difference for employees and the market rate [...] There needs to be some balance"

Irrelevant. The employer made an offer of employment. The employee weighed the pros-and-cons of the offer and accepted or not. "Balance" makes no more sense the the kid I pay to mow my lawn asking for a balance between my household and himself.

"How is that a sensible deal for them?"

Not for me or you to say. Each and every employee needs to take personal responsibility and determine whether or not a employment "deal" is sensible for their situation. If an employer is making all non-sensible offers, they won't attract a quality workforce and will fail. Market-force in action. Happens every day.