I don't know as I am not in an academic surrounding. I had a job with the cleaning staff and a university and everyone always seemed polite. I really did not have contact with the professors. In graduate school I cannot recall any professors treating ancillary staff differently. I believe that type of contact was pretty minimal anyway, at least too minimal to make an accurate representation.

Of course. Why wouldn't you? I would be embarrassed to ignore them.

I'm not an important person in my company. My "office" is shared with a traveling IT guy who stores his shit in it and is also the room where all the wiring for the store originates.

My actual desk is a really a built in shelf with a chair in front of it but someone else empties my garbage and takes my boxes of recycled paper to the back room.

His name is Pete and I thank him every time because he is a human worthy of respect.

I've noticed that the people with titles will not speak to us without titles- not even a good morning or hello even if we speak first but will speak to another title standing nearby.

I think I'm gonna be an asshole next time

Don’t know why one wouldn’t. Cleaning staff are people too!

I always talked to everybody. I still do. Recently when I was admitted, I had a lovely Hispanic housekeeper who graciously let me practice my Spanish with her. I try to speak and make eye contact with everyone, except those few times that I’m in the fog of pain and so miserable that I can’t.
We are all people. I’m no better or worse than anyone else!

I love my cleaning staff. They are part of our team and attend all trainings and parties a like

Why is it "special" to speak to anybody doing their job?

After I wrote this, I thought maybe even the post sounds snobby (snooty/stuck up). I'm really not. I am just really grateful that they help us and make our lives easier. In addition, its only because of a series of lucky breaks that I am not cleaning offices too.

lol If it were not for the "cleaning" staff, I would not have become a Big Sister to a wonderful girl in Atlanta. I worked a lot of overtime as a CPA and saw Brenda often...she politely asked if it was OK to vacuum while I was working...she offered to share her dinner with me...that is how I knew I did not like pig ear sandwiches with mustard...ha ha...she had two little daughters that often came to work with her and sat quietly drawing pictures...I still have my "portraits" drawn by them...

I became a volunteer to mentor the youngest one...I watched her grow up and become the first in three generations to get herself out of poverty...she is a cleaning person as well...but she works for Delta and is paid a decent wage to clean out planes...so in case you see her, please be nice and say "hi" to the cleaning staff...

Rosy :
Rosy was about late 50s when I was mid thirties .
Different hospital , 16 yrs ago . I was the nurse in charge in PICU , married , no kids ( well that did not change ), no money issues .
Rosy was one of the unit's permanent housekeepers . Black , skinny , frail , always smiling and looking after all of us clowns . She had a son in jail and a daughter who lived w her .
Every Monday I was bringing foods and bulllshits for everyone . My self , just strolling in w my Starbucks coffee ( back then I was drinking that crap ). And every few weeks I will make a bag w gift card from farm fresh , cash card , this and that for rosy . And it was always an excuse or a holiday in America to do so and not insulting her u know ?
Rosy was riding the bus I will like to add . No car .
When divorce happen for me , I found self w 0 money . My pride and my choice . My licenses and my suitcase, and I returned to my old job and town . There was no Luxury money to spend on stbx bullshit coffee . Had to budget everything to re built a life from nothing .
Rosy apparently noticed . She asked me , " Ms M , no good coffee anymore huh "?
I told her " rosy , f good coffee , I don't even have glassware at my new place ", gas station coffee its juuuust fine !
That month , one Friday , a pay day Friday I remember that very well , rosy came to my office and left me a small package w a note . There was a coffee mug and 30 dollars .
Man , I have cried more over this than I cried over my divorce !
I have not spend that 30 dollars or used the mug ever . I keep them in a shoebox and I visit them at least once a year .
Compassion and empathy and humanity has litle to do w degrees , positions , or possessions. I believe that Bcz I lived 12 yrs later to type all this shit in my car today on a web site here for all of u to read .
Rosy died in 2014. I was already in different hospital and 7 yrs later since this gift of hers . I notified by her daughter who I have kept touch with and last season I was able to coach her son on recreational basketball league
I tell him that his grandma was a lady . A true lady . And I believe it .
The End ,
Bcz I have to get in and feed the boys and go to bed u all .
Good job Amisja for been real w your people ♥️

In the U.S., we call it "being stuck up". I've always talked to cleaning staff where I worked. Even went out for a couple beers after work with some.

I grew up with servants - and was brought up to treat them as people, with feelings. It was mainly the "two-year contract" people who regarded themselves as being "above" their servants. We true colonials valued them and their ideas. I'm glad to say that my children and grandchildren also have this attitude of everybody having a worth, and therefore being acknowledged socially.

Always did at one job i in lab added some chemicals to help clean better snobs were frowned upon in my family also explains why my ex wife is a ex

The cleaning staff usually come through in the middle of the night. If I'm around, we have a quick chat. They usually want to get in with it and so do I. However you look at it, they are fellow human beings.

I engage with all people on staff as everyone plays an important role in maintaining the success of our company.

And, they're also people. What kind of person considers cleaning staff beneath them?

Rhetorical... I know the answer to that question.

I talk to anyone I see on a daily basis... It's rude to ignore them..

Snobs. That's my experience anyway. It's great to know there are people with your approach to others in the world but we don't always realise it. Thank you for sharing this.