'Hey, You're Fired, Old Man,' Manager Tells Janitor, Not Knowing He'll Be Her Boss the Next Day

A dedicated woman transforms into a harsh and impatient boss after her latest promotion at the store. She gets away with it until she insults and dismisses an elderly janitor.

It had only been a week since Nia’s big promotion, and she still couldn’t believe it. She was now the general manager of one of the largest branches of a fashion retail company.

Years earlier, before she received the promotion, Nia had filled a binder with ideas on how she would improve the store if given the chance. That morning, the binder sat proudly on her desk as Nia addressed staff shortly after opening the doors.

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"Alright, everyone. Is everyone clear about the new procedures we’ll follow?" she inquired.

The team responded with nods, warm smiles, and a few affirmative yeses.

"I don’t want anyone to be careless or stray from my new standards. To make sure of that, here’s what we’ll do."

She explained, "Anyone who fails to comply — whether it’s uniform, greeting customers, display setup, or punctuality — will lose their bonus for this month."

Nia watched as their faces turned serious, and she proudly smiled at her own plan.

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However, the staff were genuinely shaken by such a strict rule. They feared that any small mistake, whether intentional or not, could cost them most of their income.

They looked at each other, unsure if they should attempt to reason with Nia.

Never judge someone you know nothing about.

Despite her change in attitude over the past week, all employees were proud of her. They knew how hard she had worked for three years and understood her passion for this industry. They were glad someone who started as an intern had risen so high.

But Nia’s new power was starting to harm the store and her staff.

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Since assuming her new position, she had been altering routines, setting impossibly high expectations, and reacting with hostility to minor errors.

"Can I get everyone’s attention?" Nia called out. "I just had a meeting with clients, and there’s good news — we plan to boost sales this quarter. So, here’s the plan... I’ll send out a list this afternoon, and those named will need to work extra hours."

She added, "If anyone has weekend plans, cancel them, because we’ll be working weekends."

The employees looked disappointed. Many had families and relied on weekends to rest, but Nia’s stubbornness left them powerless to change her mind.

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Day after day, Nia introduced new strategies demanding more effort from staff. She established unrealistic goals that compromised quality and kept convincing herself it was for profits.

Then, she ordered loaders away and told sales staff to unload products to cut costs. No one was allowed a break longer than five minutes, and talking during work was forbidden.

She became increasingly strict — banning sitting or relaxing, limiting sick leave to serious cases, and enforcing punctuality for all.

She explained sternly, "When customers see us busy and quick, they’ll think highly of us. Always serve with a smile. Is that understood?"

Nia was thrilled with her management style. Sitting in her new office, she admired her achievements, sipping coffee and reflecting on her journey. Climbing so high had been difficult.

She remembered the days when she struggled through multiple job applications, facing rejection left and right.

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Raised by a single mother after her father’s death in a car accident, Nia was a top student. After college, she tried various jobs but none suited her. She was a dreamer, eager to reach greater heights rather than settle for an ordinary job like her mother’s.

Desperate for a break, she found a flyer advertising an internship at a fashion store. She proposed fresh ideas during the interview and was hired immediately because they saw her potential.

From her first day, she promised herself to earn a quick promotion. Her dedication paid off, and within six months, she became the store’s general manager.

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She still remembered the thrill of sitting in her new office, gazing at the street where she once wandered looking for work. She was eager to forget those tough days.

She was proud of the changes she had made but soon noticed that overworking the staff was causing sales to plummet, contradicting her goals.

She grew furious, blaming her employees for the downturn.

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Her voice roared at her team, "Our numbers are falling. We’re going to fail at this rate. I don’t care what you do, but work harder — longer hours, fewer breaks, do whatever it takes. We can’t let sales fall."

Confused by the sudden drop, she pushed her staff harder.

One day, after a tense meeting, she caught Maya, a saleswoman, sleeping at the counter.

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"How dare you sleep on the job?" she shouted.

Maya freaked out, "No, ma’am! I was just… I’m sorry. It won’t happen again."

Nia called everyone into her office. Frustration from declining sales and disrespect for her authority boiled over.

She loudly declared, "Here's your paycheck. YOU’RE FIRED! Leave now!"

She threw the paycheck toward Maya. Everyone watched silently, afraid to interfere.

"Take your money and go," Nia ordered.

Suddenly, Victor, a 68-year-old janitor, spoke up from the crowd.

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"Hey, Nia," Victor said softly, raising his trembling hand with a smile.

Nia hesitated, not expecting to hear from the old man.

"First, I want to say we all appreciate your effort, Nia," Victor began, making her smile.

"But I think this new way of running things is making us afraid. We all don’t want to lose our bonuses, and maybe we can forgive small mistakes and move on."

Nia frowned. She didn’t like Victor speaking up for everyone. She saw her colleagues nodding in agreement, which annoyed her.

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"Stop talking, Victor," she snapped. "And let’s focus. I’ve noticed you come late, and your lunch is long. That’s over now. From today, you follow my rules or face consequences."

Victor tried to explain, "There’s a reason I’ve been late sometimes…"

Before he finished, Nia interrupted sharply, with everyone watching.

"I don’t want excuses! You weren’t given permission to interrupt me. Take your paycheck and leave, just like Maya and the others."

Her harshness shocked Victor. He had never been so publicly humiliated before.

"Let this be a lesson," Nia declared. "Anyone making excuses under my watch will be dismissed—just like Victor and Maya."

Her words sent Victor’s face pale. He seemed ready to plead for his job.

"Yes. You’re both fired. Thanks for your years, but you’re no longer needed here. Leave immediately," she announced, nearly gleeful.

Maya and Victor quietly exited, leaving shocked silence among the staff, some with tears in their eyes.

That may have ended Victor’s employment as a janitor, but something much bigger awaited him the next day.

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Heralding a new chapter, Mr. Gordon, owner of the multi-billion dollar chain, made an unannounced visit the following day. He wanted to address the dramatic revenue decline and see what had gone wrong.

"Good morning! How’s everyone doing?" Mr. Gordon greeted the staff, noticing their disappointment.

"Not so well," one worker responded, and others nodded.

He asked about their Christmas plans, learning many wanted extended breaks, but Nia’s policies limited benefits.

He then called Nia to his office.

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"Miss Ferguson, I see our revenue has dropped sharply. What’s happened? I expected you to handle this," Mr. Gordon said.

She offered vague excuses, blaming the staff. "I’ve been trying, but they are lazy. I need to watch everyone closely to get results."

He listened, then said, "Last month, we had the same staff, and things were better. No new hires. Why did they suddenly become lazy?"

Nia squeezed her lips, nodding as Mr. Gordon gave her a month to fix things.

"Just one month, Miss Ferguson," he instructed and then inquired about Victor.

"Where’s Victor? He greeted me every visit but isn’t here today. Can you call him? I’d like to invite him for tea."

She hesitated but admitted she had fired him.

"Mr. Gordon, I had to. Victor was often late, and he’s too old."

“WHAT DID YOU DO? WHO TOLD YOU TO FIRE HIM? Do you realize the mistake you made by dismissing the store’s co-owner?”

His face darkened. Nia was stunned. "He’s just a janitor," she said.

"Who told you that?" Gordon snapped.

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His voice trembled as he told her, "When I was young, my father owned this store. It was his first business. I remember Victor—the man who worked as our janitor. He was middle-aged, hardworking, kind, and sincere. I’ve never met anyone like him."

Gordon’s eyes welled with tears as he recounted, "One day, I was chasing an ice cream van and almost got hit by a car. Victor was nearby, saw me, and saved my life by pushing me away. He got hit himself, and it put him in intensive care."

His father covered Victor’s hospital bills. When Victor recovered, he offered him a share of the business for saving his son’s life.

"Victor’s response? 'I just did what anyone would do. Tom’s life is more important than any reward, and I’m glad I could help.' He’s a man with a heart of gold!"

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His father kept convincing Victor, and finally, he agreed to co-own the store but worked as a janitor. He never changed his work ethic.

“He’s lost his family, his wife and child, during childbirth. He considers the staff his second family. Victor even donates his earnings to homeless and orphaned children.”

Every morning, before work, Victor visited shelters, serving food to children. Sometimes, traffic made him late, but he was always honest and hardworking. Disappointingly, Nia couldn’t see the value in someone like him.

Gordon hurried out but paused, turning back. "You must apologize to Victor. He’ll run this branch starting tomorrow. I’ll come again, but it’s Victor’s choice whether to forgive you or not."

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Heralded by this, Nia rushed to his modest home, heart pounding. She figured Victor would fire her the next day.

“How will I increase sales in just one month?” she worried. “How do I face Victor? He should have told me he was a co-owner. If he was, I shouldn’t have fired him. Now everything’s falling apart. What can I do?”

She pulled over outside Victor’s humble house. Despite being a co-owner of a large chain, Victor still lived simply—just like he always had with his late wife.

Nia hesitated, knocking on his door.

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Victor greeted her kindly, offering her a homemade apple pie before inviting her inside.

"Sorry about everything, Nia. After my wife passed, this house lost its charm. Please, sit down."

He served her pie, watching her anxiously while knowing Mr. Gordon likely lectured her about her reckless choices.

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"I remember my father’s secret to success," Victor said softly.

"When he was alive, he always put his staff first—offering them comfortable shifts, bonuses, company events, and weekends off. He made sure customers were always respectful. He treated everyone like family."

Nia listened carefully, beginning to understand what had gone wrong.

"But how does that help the business grow?" she asked. "If employees get those perks, won’t they become lax?"

Victor smiled. "When staff love their work, they give their best. Customers notice good service and come back. That means more sales and higher profits. A smart boss finds ways to motivate, not punish."

He finished his pie and told Nia to bring Maya back to work. "You never know what potential people have—Maya might surprise you. Never judge someone by appearance or job title."

Nia grinned, feeling hopeful. As she prepared to leave, Victor paused her.

"Don’t worry, Nia. I won’t fire you. But we’ll decide together, with everyone and Mr. Gordon, through a vote."

Back at the store, Nia gathered all employees, nervous about what new rules she might announce. But no one expected what came next.

"Hello, everyone," Nia said with a rare smile. "Starting tomorrow, Victor, our store’s co-owner, will be leading us."

The staff was stunned. Some didn’t even realize that the janitor was actually the boss.

She added, "Forgive my mistakes—I was new here. Maya and Victor will return tomorrow, and we’ll work as a team. Is that understood?"

From that day, Nia followed Victor’s advice and embraced Gordon’s father’s principles. She respected her workers and showed genuine care, not just authority.

Over time, her approach paid off. Employees performed better, and next quarter’s sales soared.

Mr. Gordon, impressed with her growth, decided not to fire her. Five years later, Nia was promoted to CEO of all the stores. Victor chose to stay as a janitor because he loved his job.

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Lessons from this story:

Let success go to your head, and it will bring you down. Nia’s arrogance led to her firing the janitor, which backfired completely.
Never judge someone you know nothing about. Nia thought Victor was just an old, lazy janitor, but he turned out to be one of the store’s most important figures.