Hey, You are Fired, Old Man, Manager Informs Janitor, Not Knowing He Will Be Her Boss the Next Day
Nia had recently been promoted to general manager at a major fashion retail outlet. Ambitious and determined, she approached her new role with zeal, armed with a binder of ideas she had been building for years. But her drive for success soon spiraled into something darker.
One morning, standing confidently before her team, Nia announced, “We’re implementing new protocols starting today. Uniform compliance, punctuality, and customer service must be perfect. Anyone failing to meet these standards will lose their monthly incentives.”
The staff exchanged uneasy glances. Nia’s tone was firm, and her policies were strict. While they admired her journey from intern to general manager, her sudden shift in behavior was unsettling.
At first, her team followed her new guidelines without complaint. But as weeks turned into months, Nia’s demands became unbearable. She extended shifts, restricted breaks, and even banned employees from sitting during shifts. Sick leave requests were denied outright. “We must always appear energetic and ready to serve,” she declared with pride.
Nia’s relentless push for perfection took a toll on her staff. Exhaustion and frustration mounted, and morale plummeted. Sales, surprisingly, began to decline—an outcome Nia hadn’t anticipated. Furious, she blamed her team. “Our ratings are dipping because of your laziness!” she shouted. “Extend your shifts and cut down on breaks. We need results!”
One day, after a particularly tense meeting, Nia caught Maya, a sales associate, dozing off at the counter. “How dare you sleep during work hours?” Nia yelled, dragging her to the center of the store. Without giving Maya a chance to explain, Nia fired her on the spot.
The staff watched in stunned silence as Maya tearfully left. None dared to speak up—except Victor, the 68-year-old janitor who had worked at the store for decades. Calmly, he approached Nia. “Nia, I need to say something,” he began gently.
Nia glared at him. “What is it, Victor?”
“We’re all working hard to meet your expectations,” Victor said. “But perhaps we could focus less on punishing small mistakes and more on supporting one another.”
Nia’s patience snapped. “Enough, Victor! You’re late every day, and you take long breaks. You’re not an exception to the rules. Consider this your last day—you’re fired!”
Victor quietly gathered his belongings and left, while the rest of the staff looked on, horrified.
The following day, the store owner, Mr. Gordon, made an unannounced visit to address the store’s declining performance. As he spoke with employees, he noticed something was missing. “Where’s Victor?” he asked.
When Nia hesitantly explained she had fired Victor for being tardy and taking long breaks, Mr. Gordon’s expression hardened. “Do you know who Victor is?” he asked. “He’s not just a janitor—he’s the co-owner of this store.”
Nia froze. “Co-owner? But how—?”
Mr. Gordon explained that decades ago, Victor had saved his life, pushing him out of the path of an oncoming car. As a gesture of gratitude, Mr. Gordon’s father offered Victor a share in the company. Despite his co-ownership, Victor insisted on working as a janitor, finding purpose in the simple job and the camaraderie of the staff.
“You will apologize to Victor immediately,” Mr. Gordon ordered. “Starting tomorrow, Victor will lead this store. Whether you remain employed will be up to him.”
Shaken, Nia drove to Victor’s modest home. Despite her apprehension, Victor welcomed her warmly. Over apple pie, he shared stories of the store’s history and the values instilled by Mr. Gordon’s father: respect, teamwork, and employee well-being.
“When employees feel valued, they give their best,” Victor said. “Success comes from mutual respect, not fear.”
Humbled, Nia promised to make amends. She reinstated Maya and Victor the next day and addressed the staff with a heartfelt apology. “I’ve made mistakes,” she admitted. “From now on, we’ll work as a team, and I’ll do my part to earn your trust again.”
Under Victor’s guidance, Nia transformed her management style. She introduced fair schedules, encouraged open communication, and prioritized employee well-being. The staff, feeling valued and supported, began to excel. Sales soared, and morale improved.
Over time, Nia regained the respect of her team and the trust of Mr. Gordon. Five years later, she was promoted to CEO of the entire chain. Victor, content with his simple role, continued as the store’s beloved janitor, reminding everyone that humility and kindness are the keys to true leadership.