Originally Posted by MS Fowler

Have you ever sat on budget deliberations? Someone will say,"______needs a raise; they have done good work for the past few years." "Insurance costs are rising, so we need to pick up the increase for that, too."
Anyone who tries to hold the line is viewed as if they don't care, and are heartless. It is much easier to go with the flow than it is to hold the line and say, " That position is worth $________ and not a dollar more. If ______ wants/ needs more money, then they are free to quit here and go find it."