The Janitor Who Gave Everything

Three complaints came in about Francesco taking too long on break. I found our 58-year-old janitor with his face in his hands, fighting a panic attack.

I called everyone together. “Francesco has worked here 26 years. He’s a widower who lost his son. He crossed jungles to reach America. He served in Kuwait. He donated a kidney to a stranger.

If you see him resting, leave him alone. I’ll handle the trash and toilet paper myself.”

The complaints stopped. Because kindness costs nothing— and not being kind costs everything.

Three complaints came in. A janitor named Francesco was “taking too long” on break.

But when someone went to check, they didn’t find laziness. They found a 58-year-old man with his face in his hands—fighting a panic attack.

That man had worked there for 26 years. He was a widower. He had lost his son. He had crossed jungles to reach America. He had served in Kuwait. He had donated a kidney to a stranger.

So the manager called everyone together.

“If you see Francesco resting,” he said, “Leave him alone. I’ll handle the trash and toilet paper myself.”

The complaints stopped.

Because kindness costs nothing. And not being kind? That costs everything.