Dilemma regarding long-time housekeeper

mom2collegekids
Tue, 21 Oct 2014 12:00:12 +0000

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I would let her go on the day you tell her - you do not want her in your home unsupervised after you’ve let her go, especially if she’s as emotional and defensive as you say she is. Add to the severance pay however many weeks you may have kept her on - she’s not doing much anyway. I would also be prepared that she won’t take it well. It sounds like she’s been taking advantage of you for years (perhaps unintentionally), and it will be tough for the gravy train to stop. I went through a similar situation years ago, and I was shocked at how rude and emotional the woman became after I terminated her - she took it personally and seemed to think that I owed her a job for life.

It is very common for boundaries to blur over the years with people who work in the home…this woman may feel that she IS part of your family, and as such, thinks you owe her a lot more than you really do. You’ll have to steel yourself and expect a bit of a scene…if it doesn’t happen, great, but if it does, it’s best that you end it firmly and respectfully.












I think this sort of thing happens when you have an employee that is working full time or near-full time for you. They often have little to nothing else to jump to.

I learned from a personal experience that it doesn’t take long for a full-time employee to “blur boundaries.”

If she’s great with kids, then you can recommend her to others with kids. But, you can’t recommend her to people who just need a housekeeper since she’s lousy at that.

I wonder what she’s actually doing when she’s supposed to be working at your home? it sounds like you are rarely there when she is there (or when she’s supposed to be there). Makes me wonder if she’s watching TV most of the time. lol