On a different note, I just returned from a job interview and got the job!
During the first session, the interviewer left me in the back foot pointing out all the negatives about my career.
I used to do this when I was recruited only to the candidates who were worthy,... By doing this the employee gets a bit nervous and it becomes easier to negotiate the salary.
So when I mentioned my expected salary, the hiring manager minimized the margin quite low, considering the industry and the reputation of the company.
I have now 3 years of experience in content marketing, 2 years as a copywriter, 1 as a content writer. But they considered me as a fresher! During my first interview upon being asked why I am leaving my current job, I disclosed that my current company is undergoing massive downsizing and they wouldn't be able to afford me. They knew I needed a job badly, and gambled upon it!
Got to taste my own medicine. This is not relevant, just sharing facts that an employee would ensure his colleague gets paid less so that he can have a better impression from the boss.. A bit of karma too!
That seems an interesting way to negotiate and one I've not come across. I've never used that to negotiate a person's salary down, in fact I've sought ways to increase their salary and the culture as a happy employee will perform better. I guess some employees work differently.