Many people have multiple jobs throughout their lives. Some loyal employees hold jobs for decades. But a man in Brazil has stayed with a company longer than anyone in the world, literally. Walter Orthmann, 100, set the Guinness World Record for working for the same company for 84 years and nine days.
Orthmann’s career began when he was just 15 years old. He joined Industrias Renaux SA in 1938, working as a shipping assistant at the textile company.
As a child, he walked to school barefoot, rain or shine, and was an excellent student. He has always been enthusiastic about learning, but he started working to help his family, who lived in Brusque, due to financial difficulties.
Guinness World Records
The city has a large German population, and since he spoke German, he was hired at the weaving factory, now called ReneauxView.
There, Orthmann continued to love learning and was promoted to a sales position and then manager.
The sales job took him across the country to meet clients, who became friends.
The company has changed in the last 84 years, which taught Orthmann the most important part of business: keeping up with the times and adapting to different contexts.
Guinness World Records
His record-breaking run was verified by Guinness World Records on January 6, 2022. He said it was an honor and a privilege, one he never imagined achieving. His professional advice is to work in an area where you feel motivated.
Orthmann turned 100 on April 19 and celebrated with co-workers, friends and family. He still works out every day and is still mentally fit. So, he still goes every day to his favorite places: the office.
His 84-year career was perhaps achieved by his ability to live in the present.
“I don’t plan too much, I don’t worry too much about tomorrow,” he said. “The only thing that matters to me is that tomorrow is another day where I wake up, get up, work out and go to work; you have to deal with the present, not the past or the future. Here and now is what counts. So let’s get to work!”
Caitlin O’Kane
