Should I retire him?

Question

Hargrieves, my eldery butler, has worked for the family for more than 65 years. He began as a 'Turnspit' in the kitchens and has worked his way up through the servant ranks until he reached the dizzy heights of butler in 1976. (The heat of that summer saw off his predecessor)

Now, age 87, I have noticed the poor fella is slowing down a little. Additionally, the other staff complain about the smell from the colostomy bag, the way he spits when he forgets his false teeth and his inability to manage the cellar stairs.

It pains me to say it but I fear he has outlived his usefullness.

I understand, having never married and 'living in,' he has saved a large proportion of his wages. Should I point him in the direction of 'Sunny Acres Retirement Home' or give him a couple more years?

Answer 1

I think you should keep him a little while longer.  Maybe that's all he has to live for.  Why don't you ask him if he would like to retire or continue to work.  Leave it up to him.  If he chooses to stay then just keep him around for a few more years.  Make an agreement with him that he will retire after 2 - 3 years more of service to you.

Edit*

Lol sorry but this sounds funny.  Especially Warren's reply lol.

Answer 2

You do him no favours keeping him in harness.  I believe the Salvation Army provide accommodations for a pittance for people of his lowly station.

You need to be cruel to be kind. Say to him: "Well done , good and faithful servant".  Then have his replacement call a taxi, you pay for it...it's the least you can do... and you'll be rid of him.

Answer 3

What ? my dear..my man bagthorpe (87) is just as old and senile as your chappie but one has to have care in the community, try a good flogging ...it works for bagthorpe and lord Percy's man tristrum ? the cook Mrs Baggins (93) seems to complain a little as she whimpers in the corner but hey you cant have it all good can you ?

Answer 4

Oh my Goodness, gracious, your kindness, why, o why did it come to this? Why do you think of retiring him when he is still capable of doing his duties? The complaints against him are all personal and not related to his performance of the job.  Nobody or nothing outlives its usefulness. He is just slowing down which is still remarkable for his age. I think you should give him the happiness of continuing service to your family until he reach the age of 90. By which time he could possibly enjoy the blissful life of retirement in a retirement home for the remaining years of his life.

Answer 5

The traditional, and morally and practically correct, approach is studiously to ignore any developing difficulties, quietly relieving him of any duties that he can no longer attend to, until he becomes limited simply to answering the door, or eventually is confined to his room and must be brought his meals by the maid.  His "usefullness", as you call it, is not in the least relevant, such a "nouveau-riche" mind-set has no place in Yahoo! Answers.

Answer 6

Sunny Acres, what the deuce is happening ? get rid of the old goat, give him 2 hours notice then have him thrown out, preferably in winter, the cold will see him off. Don't forget to take his savings off him, he would only squander it, you could make better use of it up West, Harvey Nicks or something similar.

Answer 7

What ho, I'd say retire the old chap, definitely. There's bound to be some new blood available somewhere.

Though it would be sad to seem him go, of course. Have I not heard that Bertie Wooster's Jeeves is available? That old chap is absolutely brilliant and the perfect gentleman's gentleman. When it comes down to it, he can buttle with the best of them.

Good luck, old friend.

Answer 8

Extend his probation.....by a few months....just to wring the last of his usefulness out...say give him the job of rat catcher....or crow scarer in the chinese garden....as in these enlightened day you may find yourself being called mean

Answer 9

I can tell you 1st hand Lady Constance, that a Retirement Home is what  the elderly butler needs.

I was employed at the "Golden Slippers" Retirement Home and we had many young at hearts who thought they could keep up....but the reality is....they deserve to live out the end of thier years with someone to care for them for a change.

Let him rest at Sunny Acres....I dont think he will mind it a bit.

Answer 10

If i was you( and thank god i am not) I would go to my GP and tell him or her that I think I am a lady of a manner and I have a butler who is old! and I live in this fantasy world on my own, you could probably get a few months in a nice white hospital where all the staff have nice white suits and you could play chess or in your case Bridge with your new friends!