I think the CEO&#x27;s a sociopath, and I could care less if he gets shamed like that dentist that shot Cecil the Lion.  But the OP is supporting a wife and 4 kids, so I&#x27;m giving him tactical advice.<p>&gt;That I’d been told $75k was reasonable, and that I would have to look for work elsewhere if it was going to be $44k.<p>That sounds like an ultimatum.  The problem is he&#x27;s bluffing.  He gets his bluff called, and then what?  He&#x27;s out on the street, in a worse place then he started from.  My advice is not to bluff.  Get a job first, don&#x27;t look back.  When you take a counter-offer, you also run the risk of having them get resentful, and firing you the first chance possible.<p>&gt;2&#x2F; Typical protection of abusive companies by telling employees who are being openly screwed<p>This is based on what I&#x27;ve seen.  I think companies should pay their employees market wages.  But most companies will only give you a 5% raise, not a 20k one.  If you know how to consistently get companies to give you a 20k raise, please share.<p>&gt;3&#x2F; Easy to say when you&#x27;re not living paycheck to paycheck and you see your dream slowly crumble before your eyes<p>I&#x27;m being realistic.  Companies don&#x27;t like hiring people who will take any job.  He doesn&#x27;t have to walk in there like Don Draper.  Being nervous is fine.  A lot of people get anxious.  But going in there with a sob story isn&#x27;t going to help his case.  Even if they don’t turn him away, they can still use his living situation to lowball his salary.