Rub you wrong or more likely reduces money for the guy up the totem pole.
Nihlistic is wanting someone else to work harder for nothing while another makes money of them.
Of course the business owner will potentially benefit more from your increased productivity. And they should match your productivity increase by rewarding merit and compensating you for that.
If you're in a work environment that reward merit and pays for higher productivity, the problem is with the place and you should move if your conditions permit. It's not an excuse to do the bare minimum and not strive to improve.
