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.

Same people who don’t clear their own table at a fast food place or return their carts in the parking lot. Basically the worst society has to offer

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… :-)

These are the kind of kids who grow up to be janitors or CEOs, depending on their parents relative wealth.

My last office job, the cleaning staff would come in right as we were leaving. I dunno if it helped, but I always tried to make sure any trash in my corner was neat and they really only needed to do a quick turn over of my trash can. I don’t know if that’s a thing they appreciate, but I’ll always do that much for them. I may not be sanitizing tables or anything, but I think making a neat and orderly pile for your cleaning staff or even a table busser is just being a decent human being.