by Linda Joyce

Created on: January 19, 2010

Everyone hates a suck-up, especially co-workers.  If you think sucking up to the boss is a good thing; you may be hurting yourself in the long run, at least in the way the rest of your fellow workers will feel about you.

If your sucking up does get you somewhere with your boss and you start to get things that others in your workplace aren’t getting, such as special projects, promotions, extra time off, being allowed to leave early, etc., you will be lucky if you will be able to keep your job.  And don’t even think of asking anyone else for help with anything.  If they don’t all shun you completely, it will be amazing.

Now, as far as the boss goes, you can’t be sure how long his (or her) favor will last.  Even if you consider yourself “in,” you just never know when things may change or for what reason.

Say you are getting special projects and mess up bad on one, for whatever reason.  Say it gets your boss in trouble with their superior.  If they can explain it away without getting into too much trouble, you may still be okay.  However, if it was a big mistake and it cost money or time to the company, your glory days of sucking up may be over.

Another thing to consider is how have you felt in the past if you worked for a boss who had a favorite (suck-up)?  How did that go for you?  Were you angry?  Did you think the boss was unfair?  If so, then you already know how your co-workers are feeling if now you are the suck-up.

These days, it’s important to feel secure at work.  We all want to know we have a paycheck coming.  With the recession and the huge loss of jobs, we never know from day to day what will happen with our companies.  But you don’t have to be a suck-up to do a good job and protect your position.  What you need to do is what is required of you (which is on your job description) to the best of your ability, plus follow all the rules, such as being on time, being reliable; not taking a lot of sick days, etc.

Is sucking up to the boss a good thing?  Generally, it would appear that it’s not, especially when considering the other people with whom you have to work each day.  However, if you feel differently, go for it.

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