I've mentioned in earlier posts about problems we're having with Eleanor, the Upstairs Maid.
As Butler/ House Manager for this family, it's my difficult and unhappy task tomorrow to tell Eleanor her services here will no longer be needed.
So, Monday morning at 9:30, I told Eleanor she was being "let go", and that her replacement would be arriving at ten. She didn't act surprised. But there was a pause, a bowed head, then a deep breath, and her reply was simply, "I understand".
She went to her locker, collected her things, then surprised me with a hug before leaving. And as she went out the door she turned and said, "Say good by for me to everyone."
And that was that, after thirteen years of service. Ouch!
On Saturday, we interviewed and hired Ester, a charming Spanish-speaking young lady, with a solid and functional command of English. Her background is excellent, previously working as Housekeeper in both luxury homes and a luxury hotel. And she's able to provide references.
I dedicated the entire day to showing her around, and explaining what all the job entails. I could tell she seemed slightly shocked at the appalling condition of the upstairs, and she began pointing out things to me that needed to be done right away!
A dusty mirror, smudges on a light switch, a cobweb on a lamp shade, all of which gives an encouraging clue that she has a professional eye for detail.
(The office will send her for drug testing this week, but I don't care. She's wonderful, and I'll send her to rehab if needed! Ha!)
So I'm feeling a bit easier about the house getting back on track, and today I was actually relaxed enough to read a few pages of Shakespeare's Julius Caesar, something I always like to do on the Ides of March. Ha!
Hope your Ides are going smoothly as well.
Good night,
Andrew
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UPDATE: 3/16/11
The Mrs told me today she's giving Eleanor ninety-days severance pay! That's extraordinary, and says much about my employers!
Congrats to you for already finding a replacement!!! Surely you can work re-hab into the working hours..or just bring the rehab to her!! Who cares right?, the job is getting done and done the right way!!! So glad that she has an eye for detail!! WooHoo...you can now rock out and relax to Sister Chrisian again
ReplyDeleteThank you! So far, so good! I'm afraid to breathe! Ha!
ReplyDeleteWell, Andrew, this is quite a job. While firing someone is never fun, I'm sure that hiring a more suitable replacement was more than enough to make up for it.
ReplyDeleteI loved that line, "I'll send her to rehab if needed!" I think that shows a remarkable attitude.
Anyway, I can never remember which profile to use on Blogger. I was on the Scandalous post and got sent off to create a Blogger account (no, thanks! LOL) Luckily, I had opened this post in a second tab for further reading, so I'll just say "howdy" from here.
Shakespeare AND Poe? Cool!
Cheers,
Mitch
Hi Mitch! Thanks so much for this comment!
ReplyDeleteTaking away someone's source of income weighs heavy. But as you said, finding an even more suitable replacement was such a relief!
I appreciate what you said about rehab! I worried when I wrote this post eight months ago if anyone would really understand.
As for my reading list, it's "Shakespeare", "Edgar Poe", and "Dante's Divine Sunday Comics."
Have a great Monday!
Andrew