How would you inform someone their position ends in a month?

Would you let the person know two weeks in advance or as soon as possible? By the way, this was very much a part-time, hourly pay position (somewhat over the minimum wage) and intended to be a sort of temp job which had the potential to become more - but alas, that is not looking to be the case. Individual is on disability benefits, and is therefore capped at the number of hours that they're legally allowed to work every week, anyway. Just providing some background here.

As soon as possible.

ASAP seems the most considerate route.

You could make big hints, hire a marching band to walk through the place of work, and stop near the person doing a rendition of Gotye's "Somebody That I Used to Know".

In all seriousness, sooner is probably better than later.

I'd let them know asap. Theyre gonna have a lot to take care of...

The Cat said:

I'd let them know asap. Theyre gonna have a lot to take care of...

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Yeah, I’m thinking in terms of courtesy for them to make preparations. Usually those living on disability are forced to live check-to-check. It’s difficult to save money (you’re only allowed to have a certain amount of saved money at a time or you lose your benefits). So I think any extra time to try to plan around that would probably be super helpful to them. Knowing in advance may actually help them to temporarily increase their disability benefits based on their income changes, so whatever bills they have still get paid on time.

If you were in their shoes...would you rather have two weeks to find a replacement job when you could've had more time, or would you rather simply have more time? I can't see any benefit in waiting until two weeks are left.

I agree with all the above posts. Was also going to say what Enigma said about switching to their shoes and thinking about whether you would prefer two weeks or more time if possible. Doesn't matter if it's a near-minimum wage or part time position or anything like that.

I'm also not sure what the benefit in waiting until two weeks in advance to tell them... you'll have to tell them anyway eventually.

Clearly and ASAP but with supportive phrasing about appreciating their work and providing strong references.

Siúil a Rúin said:

Clearly and ASAP but with supportive phrasing about appreciating their work and providing strong references.

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Thanks, and I will certainly do that. And I'd like to extend a big "thank you" to those of you who chimed in here and contributed your thoughts. It's a bit of a difficult scenario. This particular young lady is around my sister's age - little less than two years younger than I am - and seems to have had a spotty / very limited employment history, and a history of emotional disturbances (went to a "special" high school for troubled youth), theft of over $1,000 on her record, as well as a divorce where it looks like domestic violence played a major role (guy attacked her and her father in their home, it looks like). She lives with her family (dunno rent-free or what), and is on disability for Crohn's, as she recently disclosed to me. She has visible scars from what I believe to be self-mutilation on her arms. I'm not a monster. I am totally sympathetic to the mentally ill. However, she seems to be not altogether "with it," if you know what I mean, and though she has an Associate's in Digital Art/ Graphic Design, I don't quite know what her GPA was or if she's perhaps a bit intellectually disabled in addition to being physically and psychologically disabled. She's one of those very shy "deer in headlights" kind of gals. Kind of "shuts down" when she doesn't quite grasp something. I feel bad... I really do.

I will gladly write her a positive reference for any future positions she applies to, as I believe that even when people have a "record," they deserve a second chance (within reason, of course). This theft on her record was over seven years ago. She's had nothing since. I noticed she has a phone cover that displays the name of a local medical marijuana dispensary, so she's a medical marijuana patient, as am I. Not that this is really relevant, just providing more context. Bipolar? Mood disorder? Don't know. None of my business! I just don't want to kick someone when they're already down, so to speak.