‘Hey, You’re Fired, Old Man,’ Manager Informs Janitor, Not Knowing He’ll Be Her Boss the Next Day – Story of the Day

Nia, recently promoted to general manager at a fashion store, quickly became an aggressive, impatient leader. Her strict rules and harsh demands, including longer shifts and no breaks, alienated her staff. When a saleswoman, Maya, fell asleep from exhaustion, Nia fired her on the spot. Victor, a 68-year-old janitor, spoke up, but Nia fired him too, unaware of his true importance.

The next day, the store owner, Mr. Gordon, revealed that Victor was actually the co-owner, having saved Mr. Gordon’s life years ago. Mr. Gordon gave Nia a month to improve or face termination. Nia visited Victor, who shared wisdom about treating employees well, as Mr. Gordon’s father had done.

Nia apologized, hired Maya back, and adopted a more respectful management style. As a result, sales improved, and Mr. Gordon decided not to fire Nia. Five years later, Nia became the CEO, while Victor continued his work as janitor, content in his role.