Title: Walter Orthmann: A Century of Dedication to One Company
A 100-year-old man set a Guinness World Record in 2022 for working at the same company for a whopping 84 years.
As you sit at your desk of your office job staring out of the window and then at the clock, dreaming of the moment the hand strikes half past five and you can run to your nearest bar to see in the weekend, imagine you get stuck in a Groundhog Day of doing this day, on repeat, for a whopping 84 years. Panicking? Well, maybe you should be thinking of a career change, because one man has proven it is possible to love your job so much you stick to it for your entire life.
In 2022, aged an impressive 100 years old at the time, Walter Orthmann from the small town of Brusque in Santa Catarina, Brazil broke a Guinness World Record.
On January 6, 2022, it was verified Orthmann had been working at the same company for 84 years – and nine days, to be exact – first beginning his work at the company on January 17, 1938.
The achievement saw Orthmann made the official Guinness World Records title holder for the ‘longest career in the same company’.
But what on earth was the career he’d been doing day-in day-out for a staggering 84 years?
Walter Orthmann’s first day of work aged 15. (Guinness World Records)
Well, Orthmann began working at a textile company in Santa Catarina called Industrias Renaux SA – now known as ReneauxView – when he was 15 years old.
He worked at the textile company alongside going to school to help financially support his family and started off as a shipping assistant, before later making his way up the ladder to a position in sales and later becoming a sales manager.
He told Guinness World Records the best part about his career is having ‘a sense of purpose, commitment and a routine,’ however, it’s also seen him travel around the world and meet many different people too, forming close friendships with clients given how long he’s been at the company.
He reflected: “When we do what we like, we don’t see the time go by.
“[…] I don’t do much planning, nor care much about tomorrow. All I care about is that tomorrow will be another day in which I will wake up, get up, exercise and go to work; you need to get busy with the present, not the past or the future. Here and now is what counts. So, let’s go to work!”
In becoming a world record holder in 2022, Orthmann broke the previous record set in 2019 – by himself. So, is there a chance he could be about to do it for a third time?
Orthmann broke his own 2019 record in 2022. (Guinness World Records)
Well, according to a video by Portal SCC 10 on Instagram, also shared on Orthmann’s own profile, he celebrated his 102nd birthday last month.
And you’ll be relieved to know he thought it was about time he retired and got some well-deserved rest.
The outlet reports he ‘recently retired’ as a result of experiencing some ‘vision problems,’ however, not before Orthmann completed his 86th year at the company in January.
In his remarkable journey at Industrias Renaux SA (now ReneauxView), Walter Orthmann embarked on his first day of work at the age of 15. Starting as a shipping assistant, he balanced work with school to support his family. Over the years, Orthmann climbed the ranks, eventually becoming a sales manager. Reflecting on his career, he emphasized the sense of purpose, commitment, and routine it provided him. Despite the demanding nature of his job, Orthmann found joy in forming close relationships with clients and experiencing the world through his travels.
Upon breaking the Guinness World Record in 2022 for the longest career in the same company, Orthmann surpassed his own previous record set in 2019. However, as he celebrated his 102nd birthday recently, Orthmann decided it was time to retire and enjoy some well-deserved rest. Despite experiencing vision problems, he completed his 86th year at the company in January before bidding farewell to his storied career.
