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Don't ignore the janitor

happychasing.substack.com

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Re: Don't ignore the janitor

#271

Post by ryandrake »

ethbr0 wrote: post #25
Cupertino95014 wrote: post #9

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The true test of character is how you treat someone who can't possibly do anything for you (anything big , I mean, not bringing your food). As for the language barrier: a smile is pretty universal.

There was a quip about an actor selecting an agent on the basis of how the agent treated food service employees, for the same reason. It doesn't take much effort to be respectful and decent, regardless of whether someone has something you want.

When I was single and dating, I found a high correlation between how a dating partner treated service workers (including waiters) and how nice/desirable a partner they were. Garbage people tend to treat service workers as their personal servants, to bully and abuse.

Re: Don't ignore the janitor

#272

Post by JoeAltmaier »

bee_rider wrote: post #33
grammarnazzzi wrote: post #11

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Further, try to abide by their requests. If they want the trash can by the door to your office or cubicle on Thursday evening, move the damn trashcan to the door. Better yet, take your damn trashcan out to the damn dumpster your own damn self. Then we can save some damn money and fire the damn janitor. > They have 100 to empty; it's a trivial task for you. It's a trivial part of their job. They're getting paid for…

I don't mind taking out the trash but I think we'll need to have a janitor on staff because at least a few (figurative) bad apples will neglect to take theirs out, and they'll throw away (literal) apples, which will go bad, and then we'll get flies.

Straw man? The example was moving the can near the door so the janitor could efficiently collect them, without for instance entering your office and perhaps upsetting cables, equipment etc.

Let's quit jumping to strawmen about doing the janitors job, shall we? It's just about being respectful of the guy in the job next to you.

Re: Don't ignore the janitor

#273

Post by bee_rider »

JoeAltmaier wrote: post #272
bee_rider wrote: post #33

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don't mind taking out the trash but I think we'll need to have a janitor on staff because at least a few (figurative) bad apples will neglect to take theirs out, and they'll throw away (literal) apples, which will go bad, and then we'll get flies.

Straw man? The example was moving the can near the door so the janitor could efficiently collect them, without for instance entering your office and perhaps upsetting cables, equipment etc. Let's quit jumping to strawmen about doing the janitors job, shall we? It's just about being respectful of the guy in the job next to you.

The comment I was responding to suggested that people take out their own garbage and fire the janitor, that was the thought I was responding to. Perhaps that is the comment you meant to respond to?

I'm not sure if it is a strawman. They seem to be suggesting that going too farther in the direction of helping the janitor would remove the need for the janitor. To the extent that it is a strawman, I think they've even failed to beat up on their strawman, for the reason that I point out -- the janitor would still be necessary.

Re: Don't ignore the janitor

#274

Post by Arainach »

theteapot wrote: post #266
rocqua wrote: post #156

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Are you arguing it is condescending to say hi to custodial staff?

I'm arguing treating "custodial staff" as some distinct group that deserves special treatment, in deep need of your smiles and door holding is condescending. The tone of the original article and this reply came across like the authors think they're somehow above the "custodial staff". Like they are lords talking about the peasantry.

I chat with/hold doors for everyone I encounter. I said custodial staff here because that was the thesis of the original article. No one's "in need of it" in any sense other than most people benefit from social interaction and being acknowledged.

Re: Don't ignore the janitor

#275

Post by protomyth »

Tade0 wrote: post #186
protomyth wrote: post #176

How about something much simpler, throw your used paper towels INTO the garbage can in the bathroom. I am amazed by the number of supposed professionals that leave them on the counter or just on the floor. It boggles my mind how hard this is for some people.

I've asked one co-worker once why he litters. His reply was: "there are people employed to take care of this for me". I had no reply to such a statement.

Its basic psychopathic behavior. The lack of care for causing others work is just beyond my comprehension.

Re: Don't ignore the janitor

#276

Post by rr808 »

jahewson wrote: post #53
rr808 wrote: post #18

I always try to talk to everyone but I'm not sure its the right thing to do. The guy who talks the most is a manager who is worth tens of millions but talks and laughs with the Janitor, its nice but you know he'll never get invited around for dinner which makes it a bit fake to me.

What sort of miserable world do you want to live in where you can only talk to and laugh with your closest friends?

Sounds like Europe lol.

Re: Don't ignore the janitor

#277

Post by jimmydddd »

plaguepilled wrote: post #71

As someone who has worked a few service jobs: oh god please don't start a conversation with me if I'm on my lonesome. This advice needs a huge sticker that says 'mileage may vary'. Not everyone wants the silence to be punctuated with smalltalk.

I agree with this comment. YMMV. I tend to just naturally start up conversations with service folks, and at least half the time they appear to be annoyed.

Re: Don't ignore the janitor

#278

Post by deltasevennine »

bobsmooth wrote: post #269
deltasevennine wrote: post #262

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Marginally. And obvious. We don't need an article to tell us the basics about how to be decent people. The article wasn't written to tell engineers obvious things that we all already know and likely do. It was written to make us feel better about ourselves. "Be nice to poor people" is a better title for this article.

Ok, so why do you find being nice to poor people so difficult?

I don't. I find it hard to read an article that is essentially an instruction manual for rich people on how to be nice to poor people.

Re: Don't ignore the janitor

#279

Post by nl »

deltasevennine wrote: post #260
nl wrote: post #101

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This is an extremely weird take. I know people who are much richer than me. I don't feel patronized when they say Hi to me. The fact that a person is doing a lower paid job doesn't mean that others are stepping on them.

You're not cleaning their toilets are you? Janitors are nearly at the bottom of the ladder. It's an entirely different situation.

I clean the toilet after myself and I stack/unstack dishwashers and tidy up coffee machines and clean out the fridge etc all the time.

I don't know why it is such a different situation.

Re: Don't ignore the janitor

#280

Post by deltasevennine »

nl wrote: post #279
deltasevennine wrote: post #260

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You're not cleaning their toilets are you? Janitors are nearly at the bottom of the ladder. It's an entirely different situation.

I clean the toilet after myself and I stack/unstack dishwashers and tidy up coffee machines and clean out the fridge etc all the time. I don't know why it is such a different situation.

Do you clean someone else's mess? Are you wiping up someone else's shit? It's a demeaning job. There is clearly a difference. I think you're sort of trying to dance around it.
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