“You’re fired, old man”: a young manager sacks the janitor without knowing he’s actually the co-owner of the company
đ„ A newly promoted manager fires a janitor, thinking he’s just a useless old man.
The next day, she finds out he is… the co-owner of the store đł
What he teaches her will change everything â for her, the employees⊠and the future of the business.
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Shortly after being promoted to general manager of a large fashion store, Nia undergoes a transformation. The young woman, once admired for her drive, becomes authoritarian, rigid, and obsessed with productivity.
Barely a week into her new role, she gathers the entire staff to announce a set of strict new rules she calls “essential reforms”: impeccable uniforms, absolute punctuality, flawless customer service. Any failure will result in the loss of bonuses. The atmosphere becomes tense. The employees, caught off guard, obey without protest.
After all, they know Niaâs story â she climbed the ranks from an intern to the top.
But admiration slowly turns to fear. Nia imposes more rules: no sitting down, shorter breaks, weekends eliminated. The pace becomes unbearable, and the smallest mistake is punished. Still, she believes she’s doing whatâs best for the store.
The breaking point comes when Nia catches Maya, a saleswoman, asleep at the counter from exhaustion. Without hesitation, she fires her on the spot. Thatâs when Victor, a 68-year-old janitor, timidly steps in to plead for Maya. His tone is calm, his words thoughtful â but that only fuels Niaâs anger.
âYouâre late every morning, you take endless breaks… You know what? Youâre fired too! I donât want to hear another excuse. End of story.â
Victor leaves without protest, in chilling silence, as shocked colleagues look on.
The next day, something unexpected turns the tables. Mr. Gordon, the owner of the chain, makes a surprise visit. Concerned about the sudden drop in sales, he speaks with the staff, then calls Nia in.
Unconvinced by her vague explanations and blaming of the team, he remains skeptical. But when he hears that Victor was fired, he can no longer stay silent.
âYou fired Victor? Do you know who he is? Victor is a co-owner of this company. Without him, I wouldnât even be here today.â
Mr. Gordon explains how, as a child, he was saved from an accident by Victor, who was already working as a janitor back then. As a thank you, his father â the companyâs founder â gave Victor a share of the business. Victor accepted, on one condition: that he continue working humbly, without privilege.
Stunned, Nia realizes she has gone too far. Mr. Gordon gives her one month to turn things around â but the final decision will be Victorâs. That evening, overwhelmed by guilt and fear, she visits him at home.
Victor welcomes her warmly and serves her apple pie. He doesnât humiliate her, but instead shares the founding philosophy of the company: value people, believe in everyoneâs potential, and treat the staff like family. Nia, moved, finally understands where she went wrong.
She returns to the store, rehires Maya, publicly reinstates Victor, and commits to changing her leadership style.
Little by little, the atmosphere improves, employees regain trust, and sales soar. Thanks to this lesson, Nia becomes a respected leader, and a few years later, sheâs appointed CEO of the entire chain.
As for Victor? He remains devoted to his janitor role â by choice, out of humility, and love for his work.
