In today’s society, janitors are looked down upon. Their work is extremely important to all our lives. Janitorial work allows for our community to use restrooms, walk around freely and enjoy their stay without the negative thoughts on the place being dirty. There are two main reasons as to why janitorial work and the people who do that for a living are just as important as any other working human being.

I always wonder how Beijing janitors manage to keep the streets clean in one of the highly populated cities in the world. Today, I spoke to one janitor in our community. He was very surprised that I could speak Chinese language. The old man continued with his work as we spoke. He asked me where I came from and how long I have been in China. Watching him holding the broom got me thinking, of how I used to think that janitors were unimportant. It was until I began to think critically that I began to view the world in a different manner. I would feel so important at the office cleaners come in to do their work.
Chinese communities have a large population but it is men and women often unnoticed who work tirelessly to keep our areas clean and hygienic.

Firstly, janitors and custodians work to serve others. They do their job in order to meet the needs of others. This aspect of their job is the basis of every other job out there, regardless of products or services being sold. Every public facility, public restrooms, work offices, hospitals and hotels, and restaurants to name a few, need janitorial services. Without them, there would be a lot of disgusting buildings. There is a need for this type of work just like any other, so why look down upon the people doing it for you?

Another aspect, by performing janitorial services on a facility, a partnership is created between the service and the company they are cleaning for in order to serve the customers. The janitorial service is needed in order to keep customers or visitors happy. In a hospital for example, they rely on the cleanliness of their hospital to keep things sanitized and fresh. Many people are coming in and out of hospitals so janitorial services are critical for their practice. This goes for schools, police stations, malls, embassies to mention just a few.

Don’t be absorbed into the mentality that these people are below you because they’re just as important as you. Not one person’s job is more important than another. Janitors and custodians deserve to be treated with respect and not looked down upon. If it weren’t for them, there would be a lot of places you visit that you would not return to. A job that serves people well is a meaningful one.
Not all of us care how we dispose of our trash. Janitors do the dirty work for us. Next time you see someone cleaning the streets or cleaning public bathrooms, respect their work. Bills are being paid and families taken care of.