I have to agree with Jplayer. Sounds like he works for a company that is fair. I don't think that he's kissing anyone's a**. If his employer respects what he is doing & he enjoys doing it, what's wrong with that? It's the companies that always ask for more- more- more and give nothing in return are the ones to look out for.

My dad woked for a hyster dealer & was #1 tech in the shop. He did everything they asked him to do & he worked there 10 years. The company kept dangling the carrot of "Keep it up & you're the next service manager". Well -don't ya' know that the service manager position became available & do you think that my dad got his promotion? NO! They hired a college grad who was good with numbers but had NO experience whatsoever with forklifts.

As far as there being 2 catagories of tech's in the shop- the ones management likes & the ones they don't, the question I would ask is what is the difference between the tech's? If the answer is that management likes a** kissers, then that's not an employer I personally would enjoy working for. I've had customers with this type of management philosphy, and it's always been a loosing proposition for me in the end, when brown nosing overides honesty & hard work.