Ethical question regarding cleaning person

[Onlooker]

I own an apartment in a small building that is going to fire the person who cleans the hallways and reassign that task to the super. Both the cleaning woman and the super are single moms. The cleaning woman gets about $4000 per year and the super gets a free apartment (and frankly does not have that much to do).

We can no longer afford to keep both people because our condo fees are high, and several of the unit owners are either unemployed or on fixed incomes.

How should we treat the cleaning woman? Give her $500 severance pay, offer her the opportunity work occasionally (and maybe earn $1000 per year), give her generous notice (e.g., 4 months) without severance pay? What's the right thing to do?

Thanks.

[Bunny]

1. Give her severance pay and the chance for occasional work.

If you give her four months notice and no severance, chances are she's going to leave as soon as she can find other work. This would leave her with no severance at all.

If you have the funds, give her severance, maybe 3-4 weeks notice if possible, and wish her well.

[SharonAnn]

2. Give her the severance pay. It's a little more than 1 month's pay

and I think it would be considered a fair severance package. you could also give several weeks or 1 month notice along with that. The severance to be paid at the end of that time.

Any future work opportunities could be made available to the cleaning person as the opportunities come available. That is, of course, if you want to do that.

I would not recommend a long notice period, with or without severance pay. My experience is that it's best to do quickly, not drag it out. Also, you want to do it fairly so that there is some severance pay to cushion the severance.

[MurikanDemocrat]

3. Kind of you to consider her circumstances

Obviously the generous notice would be the most in her favor, and giving her the opportunity to work occasionally if you do have projects that suit her.

[DuctapeFatwa]

4. The tenants should try to keep in touch with her so when they are priced

out of the condo, and hit the streets, they will know someone who's been there a little longer who can show them the ropes

[Kamika]

5. I'd do generous notice

single Mom and all..


Will help her while she's hunting new jobs

[dolo amber]

6. So....yeah

I need more sleep or to lay off the cold medicine or something...I totally read the title of this thread as "Question regarding ethnic cleansing person" or something to that effect ...:wtf:


<needs a nap> :eyes:

I think that by virtue of the fact you're even bothered enough to ask, you'll probably come to a decent and humane decision yourself. ;) :)