Trickle-Downsizing: Laid-Off Professionals Can't Afford to Keep the Help

New York Times:

IN September, Cathy DeVore, a real estate agent in Larchmont, N.Y., whose business has been at a standstill lately, began taking gradual steps to lay off her longtime nanny and housekeeper. Aware that the woman supports a son, a mother, and a niece in Dominica, and worried for their well-being, Mrs. DeVore wanted to make sure her employee found another source of income before losing her $500-a-week salary.

"I told her I was worried about her job security with me, and found her an additional day of work with my sister, and told her that she should start saving because I was worried about having to cut her back more," Mrs. DeVore said. "In October I started a no-overtime policy; in November I told her that as of Jan. 1, I am cutting her back to 20 hours a week, and that as of June 30, I probably won't need her at all."

Read the whole story: New York Times

Comments

[KarateKid]

The guy in the picture is a housekeeper in a hotel. The towel sculpture is a feature some hotels have; some are quite creative.

Having lived near Larchmont, I know a lot of people who use housekeepers that they pay in cash, knowing they were illegal. I know one housekeeper who was loaned to me by a friend while my wife was ill, for two weeks, and I had a chance to speak to her; she had been in the US for 10 years, her kids went to public school, her husband, also an illegal, worked for a landscape company, and they preferred to stay illegal and take cash rather than go for a green card, then pay taxes. I was exasperated when I found out she was illegal, to say the least, and never used her again.

It's not just companies that employ illegal aliens; some of the wealthy are just as bad. It's sort of a quid pro quo situation, and illustrates how deeply imbedded illegal aliens are in this country.

[GerryS]

Did anyone notice that the photo appears to be a hotel room?

[Wiserone]

In some way I'm supposed feel "sorry" for another who might just have to clean there own toliets??? Sorry, in this economy that just doesn't compute.

[Skepticat]

How about feeling sorry for the people that get laid off from these generally low paying jobs?

[LillyDePlume]

I don't feel sorry for the worker getting paid under the table or the one in the country illegally (mentioned in the full article).

[xrepublican]

Further comments on this - a missive from the land of nannies and junior leaguers. Diary pimp.

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/12/11/82010/264/457/671790

[KathyinCT]

My husband was laid off from APril to August, started a new job and his position was eliminated in October, and I'm a consultant whose business is drying up.

We thought of letting the two women who have worked for us for several years as housekeepers go -- but then realized that we could be literally taking food off their table.

So we found other ways to economize -- we're really watching our electricity and heating oil, spending less on take out food or restaurants (like zero).

People have to take care of other people at times like this. That's the only way we will all survive.

If the upper and upper middle class try to maintain their lovely lifestyles at the expense of people less fortunate, then we've really lost the spirit of caring and compassion that has made America a good place.

[topkatnc]

I wish everyone could do what you and your husband have done.

[Andman0121]

Seriously though, God bless you two...but do you really need a housekeeper to begin with? Maybe its my lower-middle class mentality but I never needed anyone to clean my house or cook my food. Different circumstances im sure, but again you two are good people

[FatherWolf]

What IS that on that bed in the picture?

[GafferTapeLvr]

Looks like a towel animal of some type.

[watchTVgetSTUPID]

Let us remember that when the chips were down, the Republicans fought tooth and nail to destroy the American auto industry.

They created $5 a gallon gas
They created a credit crisis
They created a recession
They created unfair trade agreements forcing local industry to compete against $1 hour labor from Asia

All these brought the auto industry to its knees Now they fight to finish off the economy starting in Michigan Ohio and indiana. The rest will follow.

When we import everything, good luck trying to sell $1000 billion US TBills to China after we exported our wealth creating jobs. No one here will have any money to lend Uncle Sam.

[atlantajoe]

Gas is 1.70 and Bill Clinton signed NAFTA. If Detroit wasn't putting out crap in the 70's and 80's, Japanese autos would not have gooten a foothold. Pelosi and reid have been running congress for two years.

[USA2Sense]

Isn't it delightful that she can afford $500 a week for a housekeeper - that's almost 3 times my monthly Social Security check - probably wouldn't hurt her to scrub her own floors....­..and make her own beds......­.......Too bad.......­so sad.......­........

[atlantajoe]

whiner, why do you only get a $165 ? did you not pay much in ? have you always been jelous ?

[considerthis]

How can you live with yourself with that attitude?

[Enid]

Do not believe $165.00 Social Security check would like to hear more
about your SS stats.
thank you

[topkatnc]

USA 2, I agree with you on this!

[curiousasheck]

Cathy's "Employee" should go were the money is an apply for job with the guys in the Armani suits on the 50th floor.

Her "employer" could have at least been helpful.

[rich misty]

Meanwhile, Bush, the GOP and Republicans are cheering the demise of enemy #1: America and Americans

[Social Construct]

" ...“unlike other sectors getting hit, domestic workers have no safety net,” ..."
Yup

[atlantajoe]

so lets raise taxes on the people that pay them, pretty smart !

[KathyinCT]

What tax increase are you talking about,idiot?

Obama already said he's not going to do anything with taxes in the immediate future.

[munki]

It is sad... while CEO and accountable executives siphoned corporate profit with fat checks, perks and golden parachute in some cases...

Those recommended inflated executive compensation may be accountabl­e...
The math is not right. We need good math education, perhaps top down.
Third party outside firms hired by Corporate wrote recommendations to pay fat salary to executives are paid handsomely to write by executives to present to the board. Am I making sense? Isn't this "conflict of interest"?

Perhaps all of us should try to attend Investors' Board meeting... how it is conducted and so on... Need revamping!