Retail worker spots colleague struggling, decides to help him — it does wonders

Sometimes, making a significant difference in someone’s life takes nothing more than a simple act of kindness. Whether it’s lending a helping hand, offering emotional support, or simply listening, meaningful gestures can have an impact far beyond what we might imagine. In a touching story shared by u/bilbofraginz, one such thoughtful gesture transformed a colleague’s life, helping them overcome struggles and rebuild their confidence.

The Reddit post featured a screenshot of the story, describing a new male hire who had recently joined a retail team. His habit of frequently falling asleep during shifts led coworkers and customers to speculate that he might be using drugs. "I had a new guy working for me once in retail who fell asleep during his shifts. I had coworkers and customers both tell me they thought he was on drugs because he would nod off right in the middle of something," the worker wrote.

Rather than jumping to conclusions, the concerned coworker decided to talk to him directly. What they discovered during their conversation was both surprising and unexpectedly touching.

"When I talked to him about it, it turned out he was homeless and he had been living in his car and being harassed by cops for sleeping in it," the post revealed. To avoid being caught, the colleague had to move to a new spot every 2-3 hours, leaving him unable to get proper rest. "So every night, he would sleep an hour or two and get up and drive to a new spot, sleep another hour or two and get up and move again," the worker explained. Moved by his story, they decided to help. First, they adjusted his schedule to later hours, then arranged with office staff to let him park in the company’s private lot, providing him a safer place to rest.

"Only took the kid a few weeks after that to get on top of himself and get a room," the worker shared, emphasizing how a small act of kindness had a positive impact on their colleague’s situation. "Some people just need a little help," they concluded. The Reddit post garnered an overwhelming response, with many applauding the worker's compassion and understanding. However, others expressed shock that despite working full-time, the colleague had no stable place to live, shedding light on the harsh realities faced by many.

u/n_cab24 commented, "Again, never know what people are going through. How sad others were quick to label them as being on drugs. Empathy goes a long way. Bless you for checking in with him." u/newthrash1221 added, "This actually made me depressed. A person is working a full-time job and can't afford a place to sleep safely." Similarly, @u/myhusbandisgayimnot wrote, "To be fair, it was a new job and the story ends with him getting a room. This is clearly a story of someone on the upswing. You need to have a job before you can afford a place to live." Meanwhile, u/pale_cover_2413 shared, "I would love for people to understand how important empathy is in the lives of other human beings!"