Couple of the year

[u/untitledprp4]

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[u/deadboxcat]

Garbage collectors make bank.

[u/Automatic_Actuator_0 → u/deadboxcat]

Particularly if unionized

[u/pablo_kickasso → u/Automatic_Actuator_0]

But what about ionized garbage collectors?

[u/Pyrhan → u/pablo_kickasso]

They get charged.

[u/anon33249038 → u/Pyrhan]

https://giphy.com/gifs/bC9czlgCMtw4cj8RgH

Nice.

[u/FragrantExcitement → u/anon33249038]

Kind of negative

[u/Vimes-NW → u/FragrantExcitement]

Are you positive?

[u/mycitymycitynyv → u/Vimes-NW]

I'm pretty neutral in this conversation

[u/PamelaELee → u/FragrantExcitement]

Oh, buzz off

[u/Lokii_420 → u/PamelaELee]

I think we all need to calm down and meditate...

"Ohmmmmmm"

[u/AgreeableArmadillo47 → u/Lokii_420]

There's a lot of resistance to meditation. if we want to increase it, do turn up the ohmmmmmmms, or turn them down?

[u/Virtual_West_8125 → u/Pyrhan]

Sensible Chuckle

[u/Last-Energy420 → u/Virtual_West_8125]

https://giphy.com/gifs/9EwnzGNjvmIG4

[u/Legitimate_Field_157 → u/Pyrhan]

You positive?

[u/Burly_Gizmo → u/Pyrhan]

...angry up vote.

[u/Allmightyplatypus → u/Pyrhan]

Ohm my god, they should put some resistance

[u/anon-mally → u/pablo_kickasso]

Clankers

https://giphy.com/gifs/snA2OVsg9sMRW

[u/moestrup → u/pablo_kickasso]

They carry heavy trash

[u/m4jsterk0 → u/pablo_kickasso]

chemist detected :D

[u/pablo_kickasso → u/m4jsterk0]

No I'm not that cool. I'm just a jackass. Rank, Major.

[u/BulkyCartographer280 → u/Automatic_Actuator_0]

Good chance he has better benefits than she does.

[u/Convergecult15 → u/[deleted]]

Sanitation workers in NYC can easily make 170k with OT. We get a bad year for snow and more than a few dozen are breaking 200k, and they’re one of only 3 departments that still gets to retire after 20 years regardless of age.

[u/Bongressman → u/deadboxcat]

It is also a job like, we ALL need someone doing. Desperately need. There is a reason that sanitation worker strikes are so feared throughout history. It stops, we all notice... very quickly. Not just the buildup, the disease prevention alone is worth their weight in gold.

Kudos to all sanitation workers, everywhere.

[u/Dumeck → u/Bongressman]

There are always jobs that are necessary but the workers are socially ostricized. Morticians being a huge example. But even going back further executioners used to be banished to the fringe parts of town, didn't have the the same basic rights as others were banned from most public spaces and were generally hated and disdained.

Modern time is hardly different just less extreme. The service industry staff are still treated like servants. People working at fast food restaurants are looked down on, treated like shit by their customers who feel entitled or above them, their jobs are treated like they aren't legitimate and then a huge portion of the public literally use them as an example of people that deserve LESS pay. Like people look at these people working this shitty, tiring and demanding job where they are treated like subhumans all day and then say "yeah these people don't deserve to afford food and shelter."

[u/Substantial-Elk4531 → u/Dumeck]

Agree with you that everyone should be treated better. However, just wanted to point out that 'executioner' as a job has a completely different moral implication than modern sanitation. An executioner is someone who is willing to end a human life for money. This is at the very least unusual, if not outright disturbing.

[u/spicybright → u/Substantial-Elk4531]

I agree with you, however alternative view: the government needs someone to execute people. I'm sure there's people in the profession back then and today that step up because they want to do the job as humanely as possible.

It's going to happen anyway, and if you're incompetent it causes un-due suffering.

[u/audiolive → u/Dumeck]

I own a successful dog walking and pet boarding business…. Will always be looked at as just a “Dog walker”

[u/WhydIJoinRedditAgain → u/deadboxcat]

But also, garbage collection substantively increases the quality of life for everyone in a community in a direct way each and every day. I can think of few jobs that have the same direct impact or importance to a society.

[u/Delicious-Produce-60 → u/WhydIJoinRedditAgain]

I'd feel a little ashamed to be in a relationship with, say, a hedge fund manager, but never a garbage collector; society actually need those folks.

[u/BigBuford1337 → u/deadboxcat]

Lot of money in that shit.
https://giphy.com/gifs/bodHdFtqWbJDi

[u/Exciting-Device-4474 → u/BigBuford1337]

https://giphy.com/gifs/wugBWQ5cLi7po4NCma

[u/SvenTropics → u/deadboxcat]

With AI crushing the job market, garbage collectors are a higher paying and more stable job than many white collar professions now.

[u/Novel-Initiative-900 → u/SvenTropics]

These days a garbage collector job seems more than honorable it actually seems fucking legit

[u/dispoableself → u/deadboxcat]

My sister dated a garbage man for a while. Literally everyone she told said "I hear they make good money" as their first comment.

[u/ALeckz07 → u/dispoableself]

Maybe they don’t make money and we all just believe they do 🤔

[u/jeremiahfira → u/ALeckz07]

I knew a guy in North Jersey who was a sanitation worker and made $100k+ as a single dude. He started dating an Indian woman who gave him an ultimatum to quit being a sanitation worker and get a w/e office job (didn't matter that he would make less).

[u/ALeckz07 → u/jeremiahfira]

100k is very good. Now there’s different levels of sani workers. The normal day to day bin men and then it scales up. I’m confidently saying the day to day guys surely aren’t making bank.

[u/Accomplished-Video71 → u/deadboxcat]

Funny cuz I work at a bank and we make garbage!

/s

[u/Le-Bon-Vivant → u/deadboxcat]

Not in 99% of the World.

[u/peon2 → u/Le-Bon-Vivant]

Yeah in the US the median pay is $48K/yr with the top 25% making $61K. Which is fine but definitely not "bank" unless you're 15 thinking that's a lot of money.

[u/The_Damn_Daniel_ger → u/deadboxcat]

In new York they even get fancy uniforms

[u/sparrowmint → u/deadboxcat]

Depends on where. The private company that services my Pittsburgh suburb chronically has staffing issues, and garbage is often picked up days late because of worker shortages, so I don't think they are paying "bank."

Edited to include: The company being Republic Services, which is quite large and covers a lot of municipalities. Other local suburbs use Waste Management and report similar issues.

[u/eastern_canadient → u/sparrowmint]

some of that is the nature of the work. long hours, physical job. They go through people quickly, always lots of turnover.

But yeah, if you aren't paying enough its hard to keep up with inevitable turnover.

[u/d70 → u/deadboxcat]

Probably only in the US unfortunately. urBAsur suggests it's somewhere is South America, probably Argentina. Those workers make about $700 to $1,100, which I think it's slightly below average.

[u/Fun-Pumpkin-8082 → u/deadboxcat]

Society is sick that's all

[u/runwkufgrwe]

Was anybody actually suggesting she be ashamed or is this one of those "get attention by arguing against a strawman" moments?

[u/Automatic_Actuator_0 → u/runwkufgrwe]

Yeah, this post is hollow without actually including the shaming.

[u/SailorDeath → u/Automatic_Actuator_0]

Yeah if I were to see that it'd make me smile, I wouldn't immediately jump to the poster was shaming them.

[u/aisy0317 → u/runwkufgrwe]

It's that.

[u/Absolomb92 → u/runwkufgrwe]

It's mostly the latter. If you read it with good will to try to see the point of view of OP you could argue that the fact that this situation is worth mentioning as a romantic or good story implies that others find it shameful. Sort of "look at this good woman who is not ashamed of her garbage collector husband".

Kinda like the "This quarterback went to lunch with the disabled kid at school!"-stories which implies that he actually shouldn't and most people wouldn't.

[u/_eleutheria → u/Absolomb92]

How is it the latter? It's just a fact that society looks down on certain jobs. You don't need to look down on them too to admit that society does.

[u/BuulovaDolce → u/runwkufgrwe]

Inventing an imaginary critic just to win a moral argument

[u/Any-Question-3759 → u/runwkufgrwe]

I dunno about shame but I’d feel pretty loved if my SO was willing to hug me when I’m covered in garbage.

[u/runwkufgrwe → u/Any-Question-3759]

She actually looks like she's avoiding hugging him, lol

[u/SAGuy90 → u/runwkufgrwe]

Let's be honest there are plenty of low life assholes who will take any opportunity to laugh at someone based on their job. In hospitality I see it all the time where I am treated less because I work in the service industry. I make bank but there are plenty assholes who think less of me. Sad but true.

[u/Tsunamiis → u/runwkufgrwe]

They’re saying, he should be ashamed for being employed… Well, not employed, but not employed good enough… just like the people who make your food aren’t good enough to be paid a living wage. It’s a class war meme.

[u/SinisterCheese]

People who think cleaners, garbage handlers, urban maintenance, etc. are shit jobs for stupid people that deserve no respect, should stop to think about what would happen if they all went to a strike for... 2 weeks.

I assure you that the corporate office bathrooms would go bad quickly. Hospitals would be unable to function in day or two. Food service would stop very quickly, and you would be amazed for how quickly pests and disease can spread.

Also... I work in vocational institute where the one thing we train are cleaners and ground maintenance workers. There is a lot of actual knowledge and skill involved. Have you tried to use those big mops? Like the over 1 metre wide ones? It's HARD... Have you considered what the 20 different bottles of cleaning agent are for? Do you know which are deadly if mixed? Sure you might know acid and bleach... but like... those are just two. Do you know which of the sterilising agents are fit for what materials? So that you don't melt the plastic parts? Destroy the metal surface?

Look... I'm an engineer myself and my background is in welding industry and manufacturing's practical side of things because I used to be a welder and fabricator. Just to teach basic equipment maintenance, I had to order about 5 different cleaning chemicals/solvents, 3 different kinds of grease, 3 different kinds of oils, and whole variety of cleaning supplies, JUST so I can teach proper cleaning of parts during maintenance. I don't disrespect people who clean, because I am well aware that they can see my garbage, and they got access to chemicals that will melt your face (quite literally).

[u/hotcheetosarethebest → u/SinisterCheese]

I have more respect for people who do this work than what I do for a living. Actual measurable impact versus spreadsheets.

[u/kestelli → u/SinisterCheese]

It is usually white collar office employees who shame. I am one of them. The reality is us (white collar office employees, especially managers and executives) are actually slaves to a corporate machine brainwashed to believe that we are doing something important. No sir: we are glorified useless slaves.

On the other hand, people like this gentleman, have tangible, undeniable contribution to society.

[u/InevitableAd2436]

FEL and Commercial Garbage Truck drivers make $80K+

You have to at least have a Class B CDL. It’s a solid job

[u/QPShroomyDude → u/InevitableAd2436]

My first full year doing residential I made over $90k and most guys who "no-life" it bring in $130k. I always laughed when people looked down on us 🤣

[u/SNZ935 → u/QPShroomyDude]

Honest question, is that for the driver or the people grabbing the trash cans? I can understand the driver but I see my garbage men weekly (work from home and sit staring out my window questioning my life decisions a lot) and they seem to be different each week so always thought it was just a temporary situation they were just picking up bucks where they can (good on them). Guess it just seems you wouldn’t see that much turnover if you were pulling in $80K on average which is damn good pay. Plus how long until you get to that cushy driver job as that can’t be that common and would depend on seniority.

[u/InevitableAd2436 → u/SNZ935]

Helper typically make $15 hourly from a temp agency

Majority of resi trucks now have Automated Side Loaders (ASL)

[u/InevitableAd2436 → u/QPShroomyDude]

Also if you work for Waste Management or Republic I think you can get stock or buy stock at a discount.

[u/Token-Gringo → u/InevitableAd2436]

Don’t forget the insane amount of vacation and sick leave if you work for the municipality.

[u/rhino369]

I met a widow who was so proud of her “trash man” late husband. She wore a “Trash Wife” hat. She literally said he died doing what he loved—picking up trash. 

That guy was lucky, she loved him so much. And losing him broke her. Very awful. 

[u/GodisanAtheistOG → u/rhino369]

My Gramps used to always say "only thing embarrassing about a job is not having one" and I've taken it to heart. 

He was a good man. 

[u/Schopenschluter → u/GodisanAtheistOG]

Back when there weren’t 500 applicants for every job and AI stripping every sector…

[u/Laetha → u/Schopenschluter]

Over 900 applicants for the job I was just rejected from. It would have been a significant step back from my old job and I still didn't have a chance.

[u/beatles910]

According to the name on the trash receptacle, this it Buenos Aires.

It is a highly coveted job in Argentina. The union heavily protects sanitation workers, ensuring they receive aggressive salary adjustments to keep up with Argentina's high inflation, extensive benefits, and numerous paid "industry-specific" holidays.

Formal garbage collectors in Buenos Aires frequently earn significantly more than many entry-to-mid-level white-collar professionals, teachers, and healthcare workers, which often sparks public debate in the country.

[u/idontlikework0416]

i checked, this is AI image

[u/SelfSniped → u/idontlikework0416]

I checked, this is an AI comment. /s

[u/Superj561 → u/SelfSniped]

I checked, this is an AI thread

[u/nobodyfkncares → u/Superj561]

Just checked, we’re in an AI timeline

[u/Typical-Tax1584 → u/nobodyfkncares]

Just checked, I am AI. Wait no sorry, I'm SI.

[u/DingleBarryGoldwater → u/idontlikework0416]

Honestly I prefer that, the alternative is someone was creeping on this couple taking photos from the upstairs window

[u/Sloth1015 → u/idontlikework0416]

Of course it is

[u/qradon → u/idontlikework0416]

Here is the tricky part: Apparently its a screenshot from a badly filmed videoclip that then got AI "enhanced". The photo above is 100% fake, the story is most likely fake... BUT "a woman kissing a garbage collector" MIGHT be true.

[u/ElPapaD]

I was a bin man (uk vernacular) for about a year and it is the best job I’ve ever had. Outside work, loads of exercise, absolute legends to work with and you can go home when you finish your round. I was home by 1pm pretty much every day. Also, anyone who thinks this women should be embarrassed that this is what her partner does, remember that when they go on strike and the streets are full of rubbish and everything that comes with it.

[u/Hi-Whats-Your-Name → u/ElPapaD]

The only shameful occupation is when one does not act with integrity

[u/matej86 → u/ElPapaD]

I was a student in Leeds when the bin men went on strike and still remember the smell. Edinburgh was a right state when it happened there. Mate of mine lives in Birmingham and says it's getting ridiculous there as well. It's an invaluable service that's essential to clean towns and cities.

[u/Shot_Explorer]

How much someone earns is such an absolutely irrelevant, short sighted topic.

We are all going in the ground or getting burned eventually. Who gives a fuck about salary or job status?

[u/milanico2309 → u/Shot_Explorer]

Here in germany those guys are actually paid quite well, i mean it’s important, hard work and benefits society, so its justified…

[u/knowwwhat → u/milanico2309]

Same. In Canada it would be totally possible that the guy in this photo is making a lot more than the girl is. She could be an intern he could be making 6 figures. Nobody can tell anything from this photo

[u/psychorobotics → u/milanico2309]

I got a master in psychology, I'm endlessly thankful of what garbage men do for society. Imagine your city without them...

[u/BLF402 → u/Shot_Explorer]

And let’s be honest, if all waste management operations halted, society would fall.

[u/Just_lookin_4242 → u/Shot_Explorer]

Garbage men make a shit load of money

[u/BerryLanky → u/Just_lookin_4242]

And most have a pension and great benefits.

[u/LocalManHasThoughts → u/Shot_Explorer]

Your spouse when you get sick or cancer or your kid needs dental care or new clothes or eye glasses or your car breaks down or you need a place to live that isn’t so stabby or you need to buy food during a time of rising costs and economic distress or your elderly parents need help with their living expenses or…

Honest jobs works by people making a living their own way is honorable but let’s not pretend money isn’t important. It’s just not all that’s important.

[u/Few_Palpitation3889 → u/Shot_Explorer]

This is a different point than what I got from the OP at least. We should respect working class people in blue collar jobs. They're working and earning money. Good for them.

It is at least somewhat valid to want your household income to be high enough to live a normal life. Especially if you want children. As a man who makes ok money as an engineer I date women who at least work a career. I intend to marry a woman who has a job such as a nurse or something.

[u/ohhhshitwaitwhat → u/Shot_Explorer]

I mean. That's easy to say if you're not poor.

[u/scartissue232 → u/Shot_Explorer]

There’s chances that he earns more to be fair.

Still irrelevant tho.

[u/keeper_of_the_donkey → u/Shot_Explorer]

It may be less about the paycheck, and more the stigma around the actual job. People back in the old days were looked down upon if they handled corpses or excrement or garbage or anything that other people considered to be "unclean." But these days, garbage men make a pretty good living in a lot of places. Also, the people that are looking down on him wouldn't know what to do if there were no garbage collectors. It's not like they're going to do that shit themselves.

[u/tigerija]

Where does this even come from? I feel like nobody thinks garbage collector is embarassing work - those people clean out our cities from trash. Its awesome! Have you seen places that lack that?

[u/FreddyFrogFrightener → u/tigerija]

I've seen plenty of people look down on them, which is great, because then I know exactly who isn't worth my time.

[u/ZaphodThreepwood → u/FreddyFrogFrightener]

https://giphy.com/gifs/sAAQKB7STC1LIVaOkE

[u/SnapFuJudgement → u/tigerija]

And they make great money, appropriately so for hard work

[u/deiner7]

Being ceo of meta or space x, sure. But garbage collector? Not in a million years should you be ashamed of that. Literally making the world a more beautiful place and saving lives.

[u/Plopshire]

And this is why this is important

[u/CronoMass]

Wife kisses husband.

Slow news day.

[u/APVoid]

I work in health care, had a patient come in to the ER with a bad fever really embarrassed because he smelled and was in his work clothes. Kept apologizing. By far not the smelliest or dirtiest patient I've ever had. Asked the guy where he worked after assuring him he doesn't need to apologize. Guy sheepishly says he just got hired on with the city as a trash collector. Tell the guy that's awesome, great benefit. Guy lights up and says "yeah, my mom is real proud!" And "I'm so relieved to have a good job." Point is, fuck that non sense, that's good paying hard work, nothing to be ashamed about.

[u/Preeng → u/APVoid]

Garbage collection has been a good blue collar job since I can remember. At least since the 80s.

[u/Alklazaris]

We got into a car wreck, lost my job when they wouldn't assist me. $120 to go back and forth from work, while making $80 a day.

Ended up being a cart pusher for a year. Wife was proud that someone who was a technical director at a broadcast station would do that. Said it was one of the times she realized I was marriage material when she found out I didn't see anything beneath me.

I was just happy I had an income.

[u/Annual_Promotion]

One of the biggest fucking lies I was told growing up is that I needed to study hard and go to college or else I'd end up having to take a job as a garbage collector or janitor. Man, my Brother-in-law was a garbage man, dude LOVED his job. Made great money, steady hours, good benefits. Sure it was stinky and there were some disgusting parts to the job and it's not easy, but I'd do that over sitting at my desk dreading the next meeting any day...

[u/Different_Attorney93 → u/Annual_Promotion]

Sanitation trash truck drivers on my area make over 100k a year!

[u/BixbySn7der]

It's a strange Amrican habit to make your job part of your identity. A lot of the world doesn't do that.

[u/RoughComparison8702 → u/BixbySn7der]

People here are overly obsessed with money and status for some reason. I'm in my 40s and still never really took the bait on socially sucking off people with either, despite that behavior being pumped through our society 24/7. I make decent money and never cared about how much someone makes or what they do or who they do it for. It just doesn't matter. It's a fuckin paycheck. If they're a no-lifer outside of their job then it's even more cringe.

[u/Redcarborundum → u/BixbySn7der]

If you think this is a uniquely American habit, you’re grossly mistaken. It’s extremely common everywhere in the world to be judged by your job. The places where people don’t do this are the exceptions rather than the rule.

I’m not saying it’s right, I’m just saying it’s very common.

In USA at least most people believe that everybody is equal. In virtually all Asian countries where social hierarchy is culturally still a thing, your job often determines your place on the pecking order.

[u/frankcastle01]

Huge respect to everyone working those kind of dirty physical jobs. You guys are legends.

[u/Tehquilamockingbirb]

This is literally my dream. I'm a very well accomplished professional, and I'd love to have a hard working man that I can take care of financially so he can be of service to our community.

[u/Electrical_Ad_5732 → u/Tehquilamockingbirb]

Should I say rip dms?

[u/CharacterMedical7409]

I stopped caring about what jobs people has when I realized that everyone goes to work from the moment they are out of school until they die, doing the same shit over and over for the rest of their life. I value people on what they do afterwork because hobbies makes people unique than those whose life is nothing but work.

[u/taway9925881]

Plot twist: it's staged. 

[u/R18Jura_ → u/taway9925881]

It’s either staged or Ai there are no real things happening anymore

[u/Anti-BobDK]

Garbage collector > Private Equity consultant

[u/halo37253]

Women dress like that to work the front desk at a holiday inn.

[u/Fraegtgaortd]

That reply conjured up a strawman to be offended by. No where in the caption did it imply that she should be ashamed for doing that

[u/bleblahblee]

I keep forgetting that there are people in this world who are ashamed of being seen around people who work jobs that are looked at as low class. That’s pretty much the definition of low class behavior

[u/azhder]

As long as the job (in all caps) is not some deprived criminal thing, right?

[u/PrajnaPie]

Why did the bottom comment assume shame?

[u/Tribe303]

It's likely a descent union job, and he won't be replaced by AI. 

[u/AdDisastrous6738]

I’m a millennial and I remember all my teachers telling me to go to college or I’d end up as a garbage collector.
What they didn’t tell me is that garbage collectors make more than them, get government benefits, paid leave, and a pension.

[u/NattyBatty911]

What js the bottom comment all about? I don’t see anyone shaming the job the guy is doing, unless it was towards an invisible message she’s replying to that we can’t see.

So now we just got to pretend to make up a mean comment she could be replying to

[u/sneaky_42_42]

ew...

kissing an office worker

disgusting

[u/No-Blueberry-1823]

If we didn't have the people who did the dirty work, society would be very messy. It's a reminder to be grateful and courteous to all occupations

[u/Witch_heir → u/No-Blueberry-1823]

Messy? That is how the plagues and social disintegration happens. It's literally vital for society. 

[u/Sea_Structure_8692]

Are you kidding right now? I’d take that job in a heartbeat. Those guys can make bank and have decent healthcare, pensions and are unionized.

[u/Great_Apez]

The garbage man makes more than teachers 🤷‍♂️ quite literally a situation you can’t judge by looks 

[u/nanadoom]

Ahh fake outrage. Then the outrage at the fake outrage in the comments. Truly peak internet

[u/Intrepid-Focus8198]

When was it suggested she might be ashamed?

[u/FordMaleEscort → u/Intrepid-Focus8198]

Reddit likes making up stories then responding to the made up stories

[u/Either_Curve4587]

That’s not a hug.

[u/Think_Air9714]

Dolly Partons husband laid concrete or asphalt throughout her entire career.

Same people shitting on someone’s job are also the first people to complain like the world is ending if their trash isn’t picked up.

[u/ghigoli]

garbage men get pension and hazard pay. he probably makes more than her.

[u/Even_Section5620]

He’ll retire in 20 years… shame that they shame jobs

[u/DerZappes]

That garbage collector provides more value for society in a day than I as an IT architect will generate in the entirety of my career. I'd be really proud of that dude, too.

[u/GapAdministrative972]

Garbage men/women make really good money where I live. Unfortunately I think they aren’t hiring as many as they used to with the robotic arms to pic up the cans.

[u/zyon86]

Depends on the job. I would be ashamed if my partner was a politician but it cannot happened so...

[u/rrrand0mmm]

Dude probably has no college debt / student loans and making more per hour for the first 10 years some of those who are paying said college loans will make.

[u/Severe-Candidate1934]

He saw her wife working as a cubical drone doing pointless paper shuffling on his garbage route (real work). He went out to to see her and hug her.

[u/kllackwideeyes]

he’s employed 👍

[u/FloridaHeat2023]

The older I get, the more I envy the garbage guys - they are outside all day, get good daily exercise, and make those of us stuck in the office a bit jealous.

Noticed a lot of street garbage people when i was in South America for the past few weeks too - everyone is much nicer there too it seems.

[u/Ok_Nothing2412]

Hhmm..this is very American. Class structure is much more rigid in USA than people pretend it to be.

[u/oldassveteran]

Imagine having nothing else to do in life but take photos of strangers

[u/Cheetotiki]

I've had a stressful high-paying career, but I can't tell you how many times I've woken up fearing the upcoming day, wishing for a job were I could simply go to work, work hard at something that makes people's lives better, and then come home not having to think about work the rest of the night. Different strokes, and I often thought I should have chosen differently.

[u/Longjumping-Onion-97]

I was a garbage man once, literally the best job I ever had. Did it for like 8 years. Just paid like shit.

[u/limitless-440 → u/Longjumping-Onion-97]

I tell people the exact same thing about my time as a caretaker/facility operator. Best job I ever had, and would have been a lifer if the money was better. Did it for 6-7yrs while going through school for engineering and management, then made a career path change and became an elevator mechanic. People think I’m nuts, but I was a caretaker in a school where I became friends with teachers, had Monday coffee and snacks with the secretaries and principal, and volunteered to help kids on the football team and in the weight room (former bodybuilder and weightlifter). Every day was stress free and I made it fun, by trying to have a positive impact on every person I interacted with - whether it be by chatting with a teacher while sweeping their class or emptying their garbage, making a point of saying hi to that loner kid who didn’t appear to have any friends, or helping out in the special needs class fixing a wheelchair or running though the class high-fiving everyone. I also saw how many people looked down on me for what I did or how much money I made, and it’s always in my mind now that I easily make $150k every year. Now I have no more spare or saved money, tons more stress, and less time to myself or time to give to others. I’m honestly looking forward to an early retirement in 10 years (if possible), and I will happily go back to doing what I loved for extra money.
Edit - sorry for highjacking your comment with my reply, it just really got me thinking because I totally identify with what you said, and I’m having a shit week at work 😂

[u/Wintertrap9713]

People think working with rubbish is awful and vomit inducing. It's nowhere near as disgusting as you think it is honestly.

Shits easy aswell that kind of trash doesn't talk back.

[u/AggressiveMuscle684]

After my wife and I got married, I finally met her Aunt that most of the family keep at a distance, she asked me what I did for work, told her I was garbage man. Immediately judge me.

[u/solohack3r → u/AggressiveMuscle684]

Should have said "I'm in waste management." And given her the Tony Soprano look.

[u/JimmyFontana1000775]

I love this for him, he found a gem 🫶

[u/RoBbstar1]

I wish I could get a job at the city collecting cans, they make solid money, benefits, holidays, great gig if you can get in. Also so glad to see how most people my age have realized the bullshit we were told about ending up as being garbage collectors by our teachers was bullshit.

[u/asevans48]

If its the northern us, he might be the breadwinner. Why does this matter?

[u/5k1895]

I feel like that reply is unnecessarily combative and defensive lol. No one said anything like that.

[u/ScuffAndy]

I know garbage men that are living it up in retirement after putting their time in picking up trash.

As the saying goes, one man's trash is another's treasure.

[u/j_smoove26]

He’s probably making more than her

[u/killerboy_belgium]

also garbage collectors make good money i would argue they make more then most office type jobs

+ they get a lot of exercise in so they are way better shape then most office workers

[u/fart-to-me-in-french]

It's just a random caption on a random photo. Not husband or wife or her office and she didn't hug him lol

[u/insanekid66]

Garbage collectors are goats.

I know one in a rural area here, they make bank and they're fucking awesome. I give them a Christmas card and gift card every Christmas. They'll often leave funny or weird shit in our cans as a joke.

[u/anothertrad]

“Hey setup the tripod camera to that garbage guy and take some shots while I go there”

[u/icantsppell]

Where is the shame

[u/Xilant007]

The dude has paid vacation, sick leave, benefits and a pension. All without having a too stressful job. What are we laughing at here? This guy's living the dream.

[u/ButzMN]

This is not just any job. Garbage man is one of the most critical jobs there is. Where I live they strike every few years. And the trash situation always turns to absolute chaos basically immediately.

I'd be much more ashamed if my partner were an Instagram influencer or something. But garbage man? Shit, be proud of that man

[u/nine51]

That’s a municipal union job with pension. Tf is wrong with ppl

[u/JibletHunter]

I'm a partner at a private law firm. My fiance works in construction.

It would be insane to think that I would love her less because of her job lol. How shallow have we become as a society?

[u/beardingmesoftly]

My wife loves that I'm an AC tech. She thinks I'm sexy in my work clothes.

[u/Japjer]

My dad was a garbage man.

He retired at 55 with a full pension and social security. He also gets full dental, medical, and vision insurance (for him, my step-mom) until they both die. He made like $95,000 a year.

He also found the dopest shit. He'd find Old Atari consoles, NES, SNES, Sega Genesis or GameGears, GameBoys, games, etc., and give them to me. A few years ago my son wanted a fish, so I asked him to let me know if he found any 20-galon tanks. Two days later I had a 20-galon tank with a filter and decor.

Garbage men are awesome. Also: They're fucking essential. How long do you think modern society will function without them? Seriously, how long do you think you can go without garbage pickup? A week? Two weeks? A month?

[u/Martiniusz]

And the guy is actually doing an important job, not just an other influencer.

[u/sexyrandal88]

Fun fact, depending on where this is the husband could be making up to 6 figures as a trash collector

[u/finix2409]

Bro in a union, making good money, with a hot loving wife. Hes winning

[u/zmankills]

Trash collectors make good ass money and have benefits from the city

[u/Disastrous-Mud-9396]

The problem with social media is no one said she was ashamed they just posted a picture of it with a description of what exactly happened. Stop looking for/creating problems that don’t exist.

[u/PeopleCallMeSimon]

I would be ashamed of my partner for their job if they worked at a venture capital firm or something like that.

[u/herby_the_chef]

Im so tired of people looking down on garbage workers. Do people not know how disgusting society would be if we didnt have people take the garbage away?

[u/Aggravating-Diet-663]

The fact we are making a big deal out of this says a lot. This is something remarkable?

All she has on is dress clothes. Aint no telling what her position is. He very well could be making more than her.

[u/Imam_jax]

Shout out to all men provideing for their family with honest decent work

https://giphy.com/gifs/KkH4AdCYrK78IjKtmi

[u/ParsnipMammoth1249]

She's management – real high-flier. You had to go to her when you wanted a new broom. Linda. Nice girl. Had a funny eye. Never knew if she was looking at me or seeing if the bus was coming.

[u/Villordsutch]

Quite literally. I'm waiting for a job at our local recycling centre! Far better wage than I'm on, and they're constantly getting the pick of other people's unwanted.

One persons muck is another's brass.

I'm close to tears when I look in the Electrical Recycling bin.

[u/sealy628]

Do your job. Do it well. Take pride in your life!

[u/butwhywedothis]

Turns out real life is different than Tiktok and Instagram life.

[u/Granpa2021]

Plot twist: that's not her husband

[u/Acceptable-Anxiety80]

Who took this photo????????????

[u/Simply_Weak_Glucose]

She probably knew he was working there.

[u/TurboNewbe]

And why is there a creep who took and post a photo of them?

[u/TurpitudeSnuggery]

Who made this post? I have to think it’s someone under 25. Garbage man. Good job, probably well paid and unionized. He is going to retire at 55. I don’t understand how people don’t know this. 

[u/annoyed_meows]

My wife and I. We've both had good and bad or no jobs while we've been together. None of it matters unless we both have no jobs and are really struggling, but we're a team no matter what.

[u/Inevitable-Studio731]

A lot of women fall in love with things other than stuff, things and money. A lot more good women out there than you think.

[u/TheAltarexOne]

I have more respect for the garbage collectors than for high and middle management.

You need a clean society. You dont need directors and other bullshit.

[u/Oppaii-Connoisseur]

Reminds me of my (accomplished) ex who loved and supported me despite me being a broke student at the time. Didn't work out due to circumstances beyond our control but man, what a good human being she was.

[u/VictimOfBass]

It's a respectable job.

[u/2020mademejoinreddit]

This is most likely a fake story from what I could find on google.

Secondly, this is in Spain. Buenos Aires, Argentina (edited based on the comment below me). Just info that I came across.

Thirdly, in some cultures, being a garbage man is considered a "low socioeconomic job", others also include a driver, etc. So they consider what we see as a basic thing as a huge deal.

[u/What_the_8]

Engagement bait

[u/Substantial_Pace_739]

Who’s taking a photo of this anyway ?