My 83 year old employee is not doing well, and I don’t know how to tell her?

My elderly neighbor is still working in her lifelong profession of hair stylist- her husband is in a cognative decline- she likes getting out of her house and she seems to feel she needs the income. Bless her. I hope she isn’t the person that is the topic of this post. She loves working with people. She did have to change salons during Covid.

what kind of business do you have? Is there any other position that she can have without being in contact with clients? You might have to simply explain that there have been some complaints about mis communications and that she will have to take another position where she is not in contact with clients. wishing you luck. (If it was someone else that was younger you would need to have the same conversation and possibly let them go,)

Unfortunately, it may be that the business can't afford to keep an employee who can't do the required work satisfactorily--by this I mean that "creating" some other job that doesn't deal with customers may be impractical, especially if it is a small business. It might not be able to afford paying an employee just to be charitable to that employee.

Give her a different job that doesn’t involve customer contact.

Is there a way to use this to her advantage: unemployment compensation? If so, you will have to document as well as justify her being “laid off”.

Is there a way to use this to her advantage: unemployment compensation? If so, you will have to document as well as justify her being “laid off”.

Imho, within your organization, find another job for her that does NOT involve client contact.

The Best thing is to talk to her about it.
Is there another job you can give her?
I'm sure she must need the money if she's still working at that age.

So kj, have you come to a decision how you r going to handle this?

Sorry to hear that she is obviously declining. Unfortunately, it is not just the 83 year old that this could be happening with, so as a business owner you need to be keeping records of complaints and have meaningful discussions with your employees as the complaints happen not hold them and let them add up and, DO NOT CONTACT HER FAMILY those actions is just asking for a lawsuit of several types if you have to let her go. Her connection with you is as an employee, treat her with the respect you would any employee. You need to keep the relationship business. You don't mention if your business is a service related one but from the comments, I am lead to believe she is supposed to helping clients and is not. I work with seniors and have seniors as employees and changes can happen suddenly, Be forthcoming with your need to make a change as again your email sounds as if you have decided to have her leave and are asking the forums to not make you feel bad about the decision. Let her know you have valued her service for the past 10 years and talk with her about what she sees her immediate future with the company looks like. She may be ready to retire but doesn't want to leave you needing help. Compassion and communication can solve this so both parties are happy.

You are the boss. Take care of your "business". Talk to her "where she is". You know where she is. She needs to know and you need a healthy business. She needs to see herself like you see her. Or...you can ignore what you see. She needs your honest percesption so both of you can be successful.

We really need more information. Like what type of business, and what type of work was this lovely lady doing for the company? Is she full time or part-time? What is her skill set? Large office or small?

Both my boss and myself were seniors [85 and 74], and loved what we were doing. He found there was a skill set that he found at his age it was becoming difficult for him to do, and since I would jump at a chance to do that work, he turned it over to me. And there were things I wasn't crazy about doing, that he liked and took over.

Working into my 70's was so refreshing, I couldn't wait to get to the office to unlock the door. Sadly my boss passed from covid, and I had to close up the business. Oh how I miss not going into the office, every day was rewarding. I would have done the work for free !!

Please see if there is something you can trade off to this worker that doesn't require her to have a lot of contact with clients, and take over some of her job in exchange. You may both find this to be a win-win situation. Maybe cut her hours a bit, because at 83 one just doesn't have the same energy as 10 years prior. She may welcome that.

You will be very well advised to give NO REASON whatsoever for firing, unless you wish to be sued. Consult with an employment counselor/lawyer; well worth it. There are many discrimination laws that can be used and this is why most employers don't ever give a reason, other than downsizing or other than no longer requiring the services. Be complimentary about the long time, appreciative, and give a good stipend. Hiring and firing is part of what it is to run a company. You don't have to like it. You only have to be able to DO it, and do it LEGALLY.

I live in an "at will" State.

"Most employment is "at will," which means an employee may be fired at any time and for any reason or for no reason at all (as long as the reason is not illegal)."

I think when someone can no longer perform their job this is not illegal or age discrimination to let them go. I really can't see an 84 yr old sue and win with this explanation.