...
By Darlin Tillery
Life & Trends Reporter
0
Share
Newsweek is a Trust Project member
See more of our trusted coverage when you search.Prefer Newsweek on Googleto see more of our trusted coverage when you search.
A school janitor was left stunned when a cafeteria worker filed a complaint about his cleaning routine.
The janitor and original poster (OP), Reddit user Jacket_Jacket_fruit, described how he spends much of the day emptying trash and sweeping in the lunchroom.
At most schools, there's a 15-minute gap between lunch periods for cleanup. However, at his school, the OP had less than two minutes, making it impossible to clean thoroughly if following standard procedures.
Read More
Rumer Willis Shares New Health Update on Dad Bruce Willis3 min read
‘Buffy’ Reboot With Sarah Michelle Gellar in the Works2 min read
Justin Baldoni Releases Blake Lively Texts: Five Biggest Bombshells6 min read
Taking Out the Trash
So, to help manage the workload, he would combine trash from less-full bins into others to save time and supplies and sweep around students' feet when necessary to keep the area tidy.
His system had worked without issue for more than three years until one cafeteria worker—described by the OP as "just a miserable human being"—filed a complaint with the district, criticizing the OP for consolidating trash instead of replacing every bag and for sweeping near students.
...
The OP wrote, "My boss tells me just stick to cleaning in between lunch periods. I try to explain that that's literally a period of less than 2 minutes and isn't even a fifth of the amount of time I'd need to do it that way, he says just do it anyway to keep the lunch ladies happy.
"He's a good dude, but he's just trying to squash complaints and keep them from going further. He says from now on, I'm ONLY to empty trash or sweep the floors in between lunches, where there's not students in the cafeteria, and also I'm to pull the bags every time. No more dumping cans."
The OP complied, but the results were predictable: with less time and more tasks, the lunchroom became increasingly dirty. Overflowing trash bins and unswept floors greeted students, and the cafeteria staff quickly grew frustrated.
complain about how i do my job cool lets see how
r/MaliciousCompliance
When confronted by the cafeteria worker, the OP explained he was following explicit instructions from his boss.
"When the lunch ladies came in Monday and found [the lunchroom] still half filthy, they went through the roof and complained to my boss," the OP recalled. "He called me in and I explained that I was just following orders, and the lunch ladies were the ones who asked I do things this way.
"Suffice it to say, I was told to go back to doing it however I thought was best."
However, the OP didn't stop there. He began strictly enforcing other workplace rules that the cafeteria staff had previously bent.
"It needs more custodians"
"Door propped open because its incredibly hot in the kitchen and you need the air flow? Sorry! That's a security issue, doors CANNOT be propped open," the OP wrote. "Greasy wax paper in the cardboard recycling? Sorry, that can't go in there!"
Reddit users were quick to point out the inefficiencies in the school's system. One commented, "Sounds like that school needs more reasonable times for lunch, or it needs more custodians, or both."
"School janitors are super underappreciated heroes," another remarked. "Well done, OP."
Managing Workplace Conflicts
Workplace conflicts like this often stem from more than just procedural disagreements. According to Newsweek, dealing with toxic colleagues can create long-term tension in work environments.
People described as "always angry about something"—like the cafeteria worker in this story—can disrupt otherwise smooth operations and strain relationships among coworkers.
Moreover, respect and clear communication are key to avoiding these issues. In its guide titled "Top 10 Ways to Show Respect in the Workplace", the University of Texas Medical Branch highlights that acknowledging each other's professional expertise and responsibilities fosters cooperation.
In this case, the janitor's expertise in managing the workload efficiently was dismissed, leading to preventable conflict and reduced efficiency.
Newsweek has contacted Jacket_Jacket_fruit for comment via Reddit.
Newsweek's "What Should I Do?" offers expert advice to readers. If you have a personal dilemma, let us know via life@newsweek.com. We can ask experts for advice on relationships, family, friends, money and work, and your story could be featured on WSID at Newsweek.
To read how Newsweek uses AI as a newsroom tool, click here.
View 0 Comments
Submit Correction
View Editorial & AI Guidelines