For small businesses this might be true. Small businesses often aren't hiring top tech talent commanding high comp levels, it's usually businesses with loads of

For small businesses this might be true. Small businesses often aren't hiring top tech talent commanding high comp levels, it's usually businesses with loads of capital. If you're playing chicken on who can waste the most capital against these guys, you're probably going to lose (otherwise, you wouldn't be applying for a job there in the first place, they'd be asking you to hire them). They've got a pool of other people like you, they know it and they know roughly what it'll cost to find another you. They might be willing to jump a little to avoid that but they're not going to bend over for it. They also want someone willing to take orders, not someone too aggressive, so that might signal that you could be a problem. I'm not saying don't stick up for yourself and try to get your piece, just that you should be careful playing these games unless you're prepared to lose and walk away.