The Idler

Janitor’s Assistant

Janitors are viewed by most as being very low down the food chain, to be an assistant Janitor is as low as it gets. The guy I was working with was about 50 and proud of the fact the he was a Janitor. He had ridiculously ineffecient systems for doing everything but to even suggest an easier way was seen as shirking. I shirked. Big time. I used to hide for most of the day, sleep, or blatantly bunk off and sunbathe by the river. On one rare occasion that I was doing some work, he started shouting at me for not following his systems. I frankly told him that he was mistaking me for someone who gave a shit about their job. Later that day, the foreman informed me that they would no longer require my services. I shook his hand and thanked him. It was the nicest thing anyone ever said to me there. I left North Devon shortly after. My 6 day career as a Janitors assistant was over.