Being a toilet cleaner is hard work. They must clean the utensils that people do their thing and forget all about it. And they do this more than a couple of times in a day.

Sure. They might have hygiene covered by wearing thick rubber gloves, but there are moments where they have no choice but to use their bare hands to try and get rid of tough stains or a nasty chewing gum that someone carelessly spitted off.

This story was told by a janitor who works as a part-timer in a office building cleaner company. Day by day, this lady cleans the common areas of the office building, including toilets. She doesn't pretend she loves her job, but she feels fortunate that a job has been given to her.

In the past, she worked as a full-time staff, but when the company she belonged to did some restructuring, she was made redundant. The reason the company had given about the redundancy was brutal, sexist, and a hopeless excuse - "considering long-term outlook, we decided to reduce the number of women".

Going through such a devastating experience, she was glad that she is now at a job where there is no discrimination. Almost reaching the age of 55, she is working hard cleaning.

When cleaning toilets, it is natural for her to put up a sign saying "cleaning in progress". And of course, people will come in regardless. Cleaners, including this lady, tries to minimize their presence so people using the toilet are not bothered by us.

But one day, she had to suffer an awful experience. She was cleaning the utensils as usual. It was a slightly different day at the office building, as companies were busy doing job interviews for recruiting new graduates. So there were many young people in fresh suits coming into the bathroom.

As the lady was cleaning the utensil, two university students came in laughing. And as soon as they saw the cleaner lady, they started indirectly cursing her.

This kind of job's hopeless.

I can't imagine why anybody want to do this job.

Why would you call this a job?

Cleaning toilets? Disgusting!!!

Once you get this low, you're as good as a trash!

The cleaner pretended not to notice, but deep inside, it had hurt her deeply. But at the fear of really becoming 'a trash', she fought hard not to have a go at them.

Unjustly remarks by young university students who should know better. But it was not long before shivers started running up their spines.

A senior man came into the bathroom just as the university students finished making their nasty remarks. Then this senior man starts speaking to them.

You two are going through the recruitment process now, aren't you? In that case, you two may be given zero marks, as you two do not seem to understand what jobs are.

No matter what jobs you do, if you have a job, you are needed by someone. You two are able to use all sorts of things in your life because someone special is working in the background - that includes toilets.

So you should not use a word like "trash". A person cleaning is given a pay - in a way, it is a way to say "thanks". Whenever a money is given for the work they do, that means they are needed by someone. If they are needed, then it is not possible for them to be "a trash".

If a people who come into a job interview with a mindset like you, I think recruiters probably wouldn't want to give anything. What do you think?

As he finished saying all this, the man recognizes a guest pass on the neck of the two university students.

Oh I see - you are coming for an interview with us.

That mark - that's a logo of my company.

I look forward to hearing more about this at the interview.

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At first, the cleaner did not know what this meant. But the two university students knew.

They were speaking to the president of a company where they were due to do a job interview with.

Cleaner passed by the man from time to time, but she did not know that the man was actually a boss of a company.

There are many types of jobs, with different roles and responsibilities. However, it is simply wrong to look down on or make fun of someone else's job. As for each job, there are reasons that the job is needed, and aims that the job needs to achieve.

From then on, the president smiles whenever he sees the cleaner. And always gives this one word.

Thanks.

The two students, on the other hand, never returned to that office building again.


By - grape Japan editorial staff.