“Appreciation is a wonderful thing. It makes what is excellent in others belong to us as well.” ~Voltaire
You guessed it! We are talking about how to encourage, motivate and show appreciation for the janitors in our lives.
These are the unseen people in our offices, organizations, and schools. They are the ones who are always available to make everything ok again… like… oops, the water machine leaked, a bulb needs replacing, there’s the toilet overflow, the floors need cleaning, the carpets are getting dirty … and the list goes on.
The janitor tends to be the one who needs superhero abilities… performing rather strenuous physical activities requiring considerable use of their arms, legs and often the whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, and handling of materials.
Is your janitor ‘The Invisible Man or Woman’?
Often, we are so busy with our own job responsibilities that we can tend to ignore or not even notice the hardworking janitor who makes life smooth for others. If you were in his/her shoes, how would you feel if you were the ‘invisible one’? You may feel demotivated and insignificant – not something you would relish!
What can you do? – What would need to change in your personal attitude or company in order to provide an environment for `the Invisible One´ to be seen, heard, enjoyed and appreciated?
- Acknowledge the janitor when he/she is around. This could be a wave, a smile, a greeting “hello” and “how are you today?”
- Shake his/her hand and express some gratitude for their hard work.
- Be considerate when going about your life at the office. For example, picking up after yourself, don’t make an extra mess and especially watch out for the bathrooms and coffee areas.
- Make sure the janitor receives gifts and acknowledgment on birthdays and holidays. This goes a long way in showing how much you value them.
- In a more intimate office environment, it is likely you will know more about the janitor, whether they are married, how many children they have, etc. This provides opportunities to converse and deepen the sense of belonging for the janitor who is not always included in the ‘office fun’.
- When a janitor is employed for many years, it seems appropriate for the company to provide added incentives like a weekend away fully paid for the janitor and partner/wife/husband.
What is all the fuss about? Perhaps, to refresh your admiration for the janitor/s in your company, read this small list of some of the duties a Janitor does tirelessly:
- Clean building floors by sweeping, mopping, scrubbing or vacuuming them.
- Gather and empty trash.
- Service, clean, and supply restrooms.
- Monitor building security and safety by performing such tasks as locking up.
- Set up, arrange, and remove decorations, tables, chairs, ladders, and scaffolding to prepare facilities for events such as banquets and meetings.
- Spray insecticides and fumigants to prevent insect and rodent infestation.
- Clean windows, glass partitions, and mirrors
- Adjustments and minor repairs to heating, cooling, ventilating, plumbing, and electrical systems.
Are you impressed yet???
Honour, respect, show appreciation and be a friend to the Janitor in your life! You have nothing to lose and everything to gain!
Watch a heartwarming video of a school janitor being honored by the school
Unique gift ideas for janitors