In a labour market where the average worker changes jobs every five years, one man rewrote the rules of career longevity.

Walter Orthmann spent an extraordinary 84 years working for the same company — starting at 15 and remaining on the payroll well past his 100th birthday. His tenure with Brazilian textile firm ReneauxView became one of the longest continuous careers ever recorded.

Behind the staggering milestone, Orthmann said the formula for staying employed was surprisingly simple.

Curiosity, Passion — And Never Standing Still

Orthmann credited his longevity to three habits: staying curious, constantly learning and doing work he genuinely enjoyed.

He said approaching work with enthusiasm kept the years from feeling long. “When you enjoy what you do, time passes without you noticing,” he explained in interviews.

For Orthmann, curiosity proved crucial. Across eight decades he adapted from handwritten accounting books to global supply chains and modern enterprise software — a transformation that reshaped the textile industry.

A Career That Spanned a Century of Change

Born in Brazil in 1922 to German parents, Orthmann left school at 15 to support his family.

On January 17, 1938, he joined the company as a packing assistant. Within years he moved into sales and eventually rose to become a respected sales manager, travelling widely and helping expand the company’s reach.

Colleagues later described him as a quiet mentor who listened first and led by example.

Kindness Became His Real Job Security

Orthmann also believed workplace relationships were key to staying employed.

“Don’t have enemies,” he once advised. “Apologise. Live peacefully.” His managers repeatedly praised his willingness to help younger staff — a quality they said made him indispensable.

In a workplace often shaped by competition and layoffs, his reputation for reliability became his strongest protection.

Working Past 100 — By Choice

Brazil’s labour system allowed Orthmann to keep working long after reaching pension age.

But he never planned to retire anyway. His philosophy was simple: focus on the present and keep moving.

“All I care about is that tomorrow I wake up, exercise and go to work,” he said. “You need to get busy with the present.”

Orthmann died in 2024 at the age of 102 — still remembered by colleagues as the man who simply never stopped working.

Man who worked at same firm for 84 years lists three things that helped him keep his job

32 minutes ago, bannork said:

Walter Orthmann spent an extraordinary 84 years working for the same company — starting at 15 and remaining on the payroll well past his 100th birthday.

Can someone explain this maths?

I have people at my workplace who are over 75 years old and still working , they have plenty of money, own their own homes but still want to come to work .

Don't ask me why

13 minutes ago, stevenl said:

36 minutes ago, bannork said:

Walter Orthmann spent an extraordinary 84 years working for the same company — starting at 15 and remaining on the payroll well past his 100th birthday.

Can someone explain this maths?

From Wikipedia: Walter lived from 9 April 1922 – 2 August 2024, started work 17 January 1938 (still 15) and continued working "until at least 2022". So that's 84 years if he worked past 17 January 2022 and if he worked past 9 April 2022 that would be past his 100th birthday.

And if he worked past say 9 May 2022 then I guess we could say "well past his 100th birthday".

11 minutes ago, georgegeorgia said:

I have people at my workplace who are over 75 years old and still working , they have plenty of money, own their own homes but still want to come to work .

Don't ask me why

They do it because they have no life, no friends, and don't know what else to do with themselves. Just like you. Except they have no interest in counting toothpaste tubes, dental clinics with the word smile in the name, or chasing ladyboys around Pattaya like you do. But you will be working for another 15 years and not retire either. You would miss those mops and the dirty hospital floors too much. Who wouldn't, right?

Geez, shoot me now.

I had one job, last job, 13 yrs 2 m, and only because after a couple years, I pretty much made my own hours. Had maybe 5 others, lasted just less than 1 - 1.5 yrs.

Some lasted a week or 2, a month or 3, one lasted 1 day. That meant 30+ jobs, in 30+ yrs. Also means I didn't earn much over that job lifetime, as a salaried employee.

My mother had a friend who was an ‘Avon lady’ for over 70 years.

She did her rounds on a bike she bought at the end of WW2 and which when she was too old to ride the bike, would push it around her rounds with her produce in the front basket.

35 minutes ago, Autocan said:

From Wikipedia: Walter lived from 9 April 1922 – 2 August 2024, started work 17 January 1938 (still 15) and continued working "until at least 2022". So that's 84 years if he worked past 17 January 2022 and if he worked past 9 April 2022 that would be past his 100th birthday.

And if he worked past say 9 May 2022 then I guess we could say "well past his 100th birthday".

To me 84+15 equals 99. It states he was on the payroll well past his 100 birthday.

But ok, with birthdates and starting dates, yes, could be past 100. I wouldn't call it 'well past', but that's really nitpicking.

I wonder if he actually did anything else in life.

56 minutes ago, georgegeorgia said:

I have people at my workplace who are over 75 years old and still working , they have plenty of money, own their own homes but still want to come to work .

Don't ask me why

working past retirment ahe ?

I am working past the usual retirement age because I love my job and the staff I have known over the years.

I have hobbies, go cycling every week and never get bored.

I don't see why this is hard for some to understand.

A the time Buster Martin was Britain's oldest worker; he washed vans aged 101. I have a feeling he was a miserable old git to be around with.

5 pints of beer during the marathon! Should have been reeling by the time he got to the finishing line.

1 hour ago, bannork said:

5 pints of beer during the marathon! Should have been reeling by the time he got to the finishing line.

Don't forget the slice of orange in his beer. When asked why did have a slice of orange in his beer, the answer was "vitamins".

The question that arises is what a 100 year old bladder does during a marathon.

I can imagine Buster in this marathon.