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My sister hired a Nigerian man to help her husband out at home with eating dressing some light excercise. By all accounts he did a great job and even when the husband went to the hospital, he would spend time there with him and be paid accordingly at a rate of $35/hour. She was paying him about $700 a week.Suddenly the husband passed away. The aide has asked my sister for $3000 to help him thru the next few weeks as he searches for a new job. It seems he feels entitled to some sort of severance pay. My sister feels he has become somewhat of a friend and would like to help him with some amt of money but 3K seems bit high. Has anyone had similar experience? Is severance pay a normal expectation?
Thank for your suggestions. Erik48

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I would not. Caregiving is in high demand.
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Reply to JustAnon
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I would say 2 weeks severence. His usual hours, that is pretty standard anywhere when you are laid off. More than that are usually contracted employees that agree to severence when hired.

I have to agree that $35 is steep for what this man did. CNAs don't get that much working in NHs. $35 is like an LPN.
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GinnyK Nov 30, 2025
Don’t forget to take into account whether the person is an employee of someone else or working for themselves. Self-employed people need to make 2-3 times the same hourly rate in order to break even with an employee. They must pay for their own payroll taxes, insurance, retirement, supplies, training, equipment, etc.
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He can file for unemployment if he has a 1099 form along with finding a new gig on care.com. $3,000.00 dollars is steep. He can apply at at agency if he has all of his credentials in order.
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Reply to Scampie1
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Was he getting paid in cash?

Was your husband's death sudden? If not, he shoud have been preparing for this eventuality.

When I had employees, the industry "standard" was 2 weeks. We have done more depending on extenuating circumstances.

I agree that he shouldn't have any trouble getting an new gig. Write him a nice reference letter and tell him to check out Care.com.

If the death was sudden, I'd be open to giving him $700 or $1400 bucks, but $3K seems steep -- and you are probably on a fixed income, the aid is not.

If he wants an all-cash gig, this is the risk he takes.
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Reply to Geaton777
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The main purpose in severance is not being a nice guy. It is go-away money, frankly. Assuming that 700 was for a 40 hour week, he got paid above minimum wage.
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Reply to PeggySue2020
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Thank you for your replies. My sister will write him a severance check, close to or at the amt he requested.
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Reply to erik48
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PeggySue2020 Nov 5, 2025
When she does this, it is imperative this caregiver signs an affidavit says he attests this settles any legal claim in the past or in the future. The payment terminates the business relationship and there is no personal friendship between he and your family. He agrees to take the money and never contact you again.
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Not really customary, no. Caregivers now are very much in demand. Your caregiver can go to any agency and start work tomorrow. But would be nice if you are able. As with any worker in any job, if the job is gone, so is the worker. Sadly.
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Reply to AlvaDeer
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If severance isn’t in the contract, sis does not have to pay it. 4.5 weeks is more than the usual in severance anyway
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Reply to PeggySue2020
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I agree he should be getting some kind of severance pay, even if it wasn't legally required it is most certainly the ethical thing to do. Usually the amount people get is based on how long they have been employed and the amount they were making and is prescribed in a labour code, I would check into what that is in your area.
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Reply to cwillie
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Since the death was sudden, it would be very nice for her to give two weeks of pay, if she can.
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Reply to MG8522
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