Do you see any conflict between your desire to be as profitable as possible and your desire to pay employees a living wage?

There is not a conflict between earning potential and paying employees.  When examining the ethical implications of overhead, the moral choice should be determined prior to payment.  The moral choice to pay employees an established salary overrides any contentions of earning potential conflict. 

In simple terms, it would unethical to pay employees less than a "living wage."  Therefore being as profitable as possible includes that wage as standard.  It would not be possible to be...

There is not a conflict between earning potential and paying employees.  When examining the ethical implications of overhead, the moral choice should be determined prior to payment.  The moral choice to pay employees an established salary overrides any contentions of earning potential conflict. 

In simple terms, it would unethical to pay employees less than a "living wage."  Therefore being as profitable as possible includes that wage as standard.  It would not be possible to be more profitable, because it would violate a moral standard already established.  This argument relies on the assumption the organization has established a moral standard of operation.  When such a standard is set, then all decisions must conform to it, which eliminates conflict.

If an organization does not set a moral standard, then there cannot be a conflict because there is no standard for comparison.  An organization that maximizes profit over worker pay has determined the moral implications do not factor into the decision-making process.  Therefore, no conflict exists because the company has made its intentions plain.

Conflict will only arise when there is a disparity between what the organization has stated or agreed to do and its actions.  If the company has made the moral choice to pay workers a "living wage" but is underpaying them to maximize profit, then the company is violating its moral obligation.  Since the organization is in violation of a moral foundation, profits should be reduced to erase the conflict and everyone involved should be in agreement to make that happen.