Scenarios for Terminating a Personal Assistant
Unfortunately, a time may come when you need to consider terminating a personal assistant. It is important to plan carefully for this situation, and to put a lot of thought into how you approach it.
- Remember to always have a backup assistant in place at all times to smooth the transition.
- Weekly or bi-weekly performance evaluations are also a good idea. This will allow both you and the assistant to be aware of any potential problems and to address them as they arise and before they get worse.
Below are potential scenarios that could arise between you and your personal assistant. Please read them and consider how you would respond in each case, and what the consequences might be.
Scenario #1
Consumer: “This is the third time you have been late this week. Last week you were late two times. We discussed the importance of punctuality with this job, and what would happen if you were more than 15 minutes late when it was not an emergency. I have a job and I need you to get me there on time. Since you are not able to do this and this is your second warning, I am giving you two weeks notice of termination.”
Points to Consider: Remember when you give too much notice (in this case two weeks) you could be at risk for negative outcomes as a result of your assistant’s anger. For example, you could be at risk for possible abuse, money theft, and other acts of violent behavior. If the assistant was informed of the consequences ahead of time, it is best to let them go immediately. This is why regular performance evaluations and having a backup assistant are important.
Personal Assistant: “I told you last week that I was having car problems and that I do not like to ride the bus, so I have to wait to get a ride from my neighbor when she gets home from work. I really need this job, so please don’t fire me.”
Points to consider: If the assistant’s performance is good in every other way, you might consider temporary termination until he/she gets the car fixed. Or, you could consider using them for backup until the transportation problem is worked out. Your specific needs may not allow you to have an assistant who is consistently late. If you allow the situation to continue without consequences, the assistant may not feel that fixing the car is a priority, and late arrivals may be ongoing.
Scenario #2
Consumer: “In our work agreement, we discussed the use of the phone during your scheduled work time. It is simply impossible for you to talk on the phone and complete all your job duties in the amount of time scheduled. At the end of your schedule many tasks remain unfinished. We have had a disagreement over this before, and we discussed how this needed to change. Since this behavior hasn’t changed, I have no other choice than to dismiss you.
Points to consider: If your major concern is the use of the phone during working hours, consider discussing allowing the assistant to use the phone after working hours. Can you think of other ideas or points?
Personal Assistant: “I have had so many things to take care of since the start of the semester, that the only time I really have access to a phone is when I am working here.”
Points to Consider: Same as above.
Scenario #3
Consumer: “I noticed the other day that two checks were missing from my checkbook. As my Personal Assistant you have access to my checking account to cover various household expenses. I called the bank to ask about these two checks. They were written at places I never shop. The bank also said the checks were signed by you. What can you tell me about this?”
Personal Assistant: “I was running a little short of cash and I didn’t think you would mind if I paid the money back when I got paid.”
Points to Consider: Handle the current situation as you see fit (discussion, termination, warning, etc). In this case as employer, you should assume partial responsibility because you allowed the assistant to use the checkbook without monitoring. In the future, it would be wise to monitor the use of the checkbook closely. For example, request to see every check that is written. Keep the checkbook in your possession at all times unless you authorize the writing of a specific check. Or, if the assistant is purchasing items independently, ask for receipts when he/she returns.