Man Gets A BBQ & Certificate After 42 Years Of Minimum Wage Work Until Co-Worker Takes Action

Oct 12, 2023 by apost team

Amid the relentless hustle of life, stories of steadfast dedication at work frequently fade into the background. However, when Sonia, a diligent employee from California, shared the tale of her colleague, John Bartlett, the narrative touched the hearts of many. 

Bartlett, who is now over 70 years old, dedicated 42 years of his life to an undisclosed company, earning a modest minimum wage. His retirement, marked merely by a barbecue and a certificate, unfolded in September 2023, but it was a stark contrast to the years of his unwavering dedication.

His sendoff from the company surfaced on TikTok, where Sonia shared the modest farewell her elderly colleague received. While the original video was deleted on TikTok, it was re-uploaded on Oct. 2, 2023, by Censored Men on X, the social media platform formerly called Twitter. The re-upload received more than 4.6 million views. 

In the video, Sonia voiced her sentiments on a significant chapter ending in her co-worker's life, sharing the subtle yet profound impact of his dedication to his work. Her words painted a vivid picture of Bartlett's daily journey, which included his commute by bus and train and his punctuality.

The co-worker highlighted Bartlett's love for his job, which was so profound that the idea of retirement never appealed to him. However, the minimal recognition from the company, devoid of any bonus, did not sit well with Sonia. 

As the video circulated across social media platforms, it also struck a chord with online users, who expressed their concerns over Bartlett's financial future after retirement. After witnessing Bartlett at work, Sonia and the rest of the co-workers took it upon themselves to ensure he received the recognition he truly deserved and set up his GoFundMe on Sept. 30, 2023.

To date, the fundraiser for Bartlett has since reached $86,000, with over 140 donors. Sonia indicated that they met their goal of $28,000 and decided to close the donation early on. However, people have reached out to her because they still want to help the retiree. 

"We had turned donations off after meeting the goal, but have since received messages that more people want to have a chance to donate," Sonia wrote. "We've turned donations back on, and any new donations will continue to support John's medical expenses and his retirement."

In another post on TikTok on Oct. 1, 2023, Sonia also explained that Bartlett actually received a "little bonus" from the company, a detail that was not meant to be disclosed. 

"With this information, it's up to you folks on how you want to spend your money and gifts to John," Sonia said. "I will still inform him about everything and ask what would be something to keep occupied during his retirement." 

On Oct. 5, 2023, Sonia posted another video in which she updated Bartlett about the fundraiser's progress, with donations coming from as far as Europe and Australia. She also turned over the GoFundMe account to the retiree.

"Videos of him receiving his account is on my page and international news. At this point he gets everything directly to his bank," Sonia said in the comments after people asked about Bartlett’s reaction. 

In an interview with Newsweek, Sonia explained what prompted her to do the video about Bartlett in the first place.

"I had no real intentions about the video but to remember my hard-working co-worker for his retirement. This was his reality and I thought it was amazing how he dedicated so much time and effort to the job he loved so much."

apost.com

Isn't this story a reminder of the incredible impact a little acknowledgment can have on someone's life? Did you ever experience or witness similar acts of appreciation in the workplace? Know someone who could be inspired by this? Go ahead and pass this story along!