The Trouble With Too Much Upward Management

Upward management, with all its varying degrees and permutations, is commonly seen in most organizations. While a certain amount of upward management is necessary - just good common sense for anyone in a managerial role - when taken to extremes it can be not too appealing a quality.

This workplace expression is defined as a situation where middle-level employees in an organization are polite and flattering to superiors but abusive to subordinates. 

Such managers are always ready to please whoever had authority over them while having very little regard for people working under them.