Office War

Micah,

               A bunch of us at work were wondering what you would say about this problem: There is a guy here that is a total suck-up. He does almost no work but keeps his job because he is close friends with the boss. We don't like him and were wondering if we should all go in together and ask our boss to let him go. What's your thought?
 
Dear Tom,
               (I am calling you Tom even though you didn't sign anything). I would really need more information before I'd be comfortable leading you one way or another. Your job is your source of livelihood, so you don't want to do something stupid to risk losing it. I don't know how much or how little this guy is actually doing to support his further employment; However, just at a glance, my first thoughts are that you need to back off and let things alone. Speaking as a business owner myself, I understand a lot about the dynamics of co-workers. There is always a person who thinks that no one, but them, works hard. And there is always a person that thinks anyone who is friendly with the boss is a suck-up. You sound like one of these people. Ask yourself this question, do you tend to separate staff into "Us" and management into "Them"? In my experience the ones that do that are usually responsible for about 60% of company conflict. Maybe your boss is friendly with this guy because he does good work. If you think about it, you really aren't privy to what all he may do for the business. Your only frame of reference is what you see. What you see can be misleading because if you are working yourself, then you shouldn't have time to worry so much about what others are doing. Also keep in mind, just because you think something does not make it an actual fact.  
               For arguments sake, let's say that you are right and this guy is a total slacker. Do you really think that ganging up with fellow co-workers and confronting your boss is going to lead to a good outcome? Again, speaking from a boss' perspective, I would be very offended and very angry if you came walking into my office making demands on who I should fire while insinuating that you have the entire office's support behind you. That meeting would end with me realizing that I had to weed you out of that office as soon as possible because you are a pot-stirrer (only "pot" isn't the word I am thinking about). Bosses don't mind helpful suggestions, or even criticisms. What we abhor is a trouble-maker who thinks he can gather up forces and overturn the balance of power. Those people usually find themselves without a job. So unless you are prepared to end up looking like an ass, leave everything alone. 
 

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