Whether it’s a nanny, housekeeper, senior caregiver, or someone else, hiring the right household employee to work in your home is a very personal thing. Even when you think you have found the perfect match, there may end up being reasons that their employment doesn’t work out for the long term. Making the decision to terminate a household employee can be difficult. Here are some tips on how to make the termination process go smoothly.
Act quickly
If you have a gut feeling that something is wrong, don’t ignore it. Or, if you simply notice that the employee is not a good fit for your family – either with their quality of work, lack of experience, or something else – don’t delay in letting them go. The longer you wait to terminate their employment, the more difficult it could get.
Meet in person
Talk to your employee in person and let them know what your decision is. Don’t text them or call them to let them know they are losing their job. Be clear, respectful, and concisely explain the reasons why it is not working out. Stick to the facts and don’t be cruel or critical of them. If you have concerns, address them directly in a clear, non-accusatory way. Even though this is your home, it is also a working environment for your employee, and it is important to keep things professional.
Don’t neglect the details
Once you have given your household employee their notice, you will need to talk about details. For example, let them know when they can expect their last paycheck, and make sure you get back keys, credit cards, or other things that they were given access to during their employment with you. Once everything is squared away, change locks, passwords, or codes that they had access to. Ensure all sensitive information is kept safely after they leave.
If your household employee was working directly with someone or multiple people in your family as a nanny or caregiver, be sure you talk through the employee’s termination with them. Transitions like this can be hard on kids or for seniors. Answer questions, acknowledge the feelings they have, and keep things as positive as possible. Then, when it comes time to find a new employee, ask them if they have suggestions on what would be a good fit for the future.
Finding the right team of household employees is possible. At Household Staffing, we pride ourselves on matching families with qualified in-home employees and have had success for the last two decades doing so. Contact us today to start the hiring process!
