These guys piss me off so much.
My mum was a cleaner at a hospital. She then worked her way up to the cleaning manager. My childhood is filled with memories of her colleagues who were her friends. She didn’t need to work as my dad had a good job; she did it to support me and my brother through studies and university.
She taught me to respect people. Their profession is irrelevant; everyone deserves respect and acknowledgment. It was single handedly the best lesson that a parent can give and one that I have adhered to all my life.
I am on first name terms with all the service personnel where I live and work. I always give thanks to them and leave gifts at Christmas/birthdays, etc to show my appreciation. When a waiter fills my glass or takes my plates a simple Thank-you is the least we can say.
Thanks to my mum working I came through university with little debts and have climbed the heights of the corporate ladder. You would not believe the number of times my peers have pulled me up for what I consider common curtesy with comments like “you don’t need to thank them; it’s their job”. You know what… fuck those guys; if am at a business lunch with a potential supplier and they treat the staff like shit the deal is off the table. Have even blocked hires if I hear they are disrespectful to the secretaries or security staff.
We have not walked in other peoples shoes and have no idea what they have gone through. Until they disrespect you or you beliefs everyone deserves your respect.
End of rant… :-)
The world needs more people like you and your mum :)
Ex-Janitor here. I lost my job because kids kept their classroom too clean. The administration decided they didn’t need as many janitors anymore and they fired me. I couldn’t find another job because my only marketable skill is janitorial work and everyone was already keeping their facilities clean. Then I got evicted and my wife divorced me. Now I’m living in a tent under a bridge getting paid a nickel to clean other homeless people’s tents. Moral of the story is, never clean up your messes. Just let the janitors do it. You could be saving their entire careers.
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/s
