Fortunately for this post, this is a real CD cover.

A new study called “Do Nice Guys—and Gals—Really Finish Last?” which collected data over 20 years from 20,000 workers found that it pays to be a little rough in the workplace.  Reports the WSJ:

A new study finds that agreeable workers earn significantly lower incomes than less agreeable ones. The gap is especially wide for men.

The researchers examined “agreeableness” using self-reported survey data and found that men who measured below average on agreeableness earned about 18% more—or $9,772 more annually in their sample—than nicer guys. Ruder women, meanwhile, earned about 5% or $1,828 more than their agreeable counterparts.

“Nice guys are getting the shaft,” says study co-author Beth A. Livingston, an assistant professor of human resource studies at Cornell University’s School of Industrial and Labor Relations.  For men being agreeable may not conform “to expectations of ‘masculine behavior,’” the researchers write in the study. People who are more agreeable may also be less willing to assert themselves in salary negotiations, Dr. Livingston adds.

You’ve been too damn nice, for too damn long, now go be hated and make some money!

Tagged as: Buzz, Cornell University, jobs, More money, Nice Guys Finish Last, Salary Negotiation