All About Full-Time Maids

[st2]

If notice is served, in your case payment in lieu, you don’t owe her any explaination. "We no longer need your services, thank you" would suffice… Assuming that there’s nothing she can say, or promise to change etc. that will lead you to consider keeping her?!


At the end of the day, the truth is we no longer trust this person to stay in our house to take care of our things and our loved ones. Even if we didn’t have to pay her, we still wouldn’t want her in our home anymore, right?

Why did it come to this? They know why…trust me, they know. Have we not explain to them the way we want things done, is there not an agreement they have signed? It is my house and my family and I can’t leave. The are the hired help, if they are no longer a help, they have to go.

Say as little as possible to her so that she will not have a chance to use what you said to her against you or to twist your words. It’s good that you plan to hire some professional to send her off.

[KSmom8]

Thank you, st2! I agree with you.


There's probably nothing that she can say or do that will make me change my mind. I also don't think that she will ask for a reason, she should know the reason.

Just making sure that I do the premature termination right, when the time comes, don't want any problems later on.

:thankyou:

[KSmom8]

I used to advocate Phil maids cos all my previous Phil maids had a good working attitude and pride in their work. The Indo maids, however, were immature ( discovered one was under aged subsequently - which explained a lot ), either stole and / or lied.


When a relative advised against employing a Phil maid after I sent my 2nd Indo maid packing when she feigned illness, I brushed it off. Now I have come to realize that Phil maids who came to work as maids ten years ago are vastly different for the current Phil maids now.

I intentionally picked a Phil maid in her late thirties with children, thinking that she will be serious about working to support her children back home. I wasn’t keen on Phil maids who were in their twenties who might be here for the experience or holiday. I was so wrong in my thinking, or perhaps I’m very unlucky.

My current Phil maid’s family owns a plantation and has little "luxuries" like a washing machine. She says that she needs to work to support her children but seems to spend a lot on phone bills and shopping ( judging by the way she uses her phone and her shopping on days off ). I wonder why she came to work as a maid at all.

[clioclio]

When i sent off my Indo maid about 1.5 yrs ago I was horrified and angry that I had to pay for her boarding and food while she 'holiday-ed" at the Boarding House up to 21 days. Counting the cost altogether, it was almost equivalent to a month’s pay, without having to work at all.


I went online to check one of the Budget airlines for a promotion air ticket back to her home town (Jogya) --it cost me less than $100 one way. Thankfully the date of departure is about 7-10 days from the day I sent her to agent. When I bring her to the agency and told the agent and the maid that I will pay for her daily lodgings up till the day of departure of her air ticket. (I even showed the e-ticket to maid and agent)–told her, if she decides to be picky and don’t choose a new employer to be transferred, she’s going home.

Within 5 days she found someone. Thankful don’t have to pay for her free board/lodgings!

[Coolkidsrock2]

For short notice, the airfare for normal and budget airlines may not vary too much. In fact, I had always sent my maids back on normal airlines cos it is much cheaper and timing more convenient as there are more departures each day.


Do remember to check through the maid’s things before she leaves your house. This includes the photo gallery in the handphone in case there is any photos of your home/kids.

If you wish, you can draft an agreement to the effect that she acknowledge receipt of the payment in lieu of notice period and get her to sign it on top of the standard salary schedule that they normally sign. My agent previously got an ex-maid to sign an agreement on some other matters.

[matrix0405]

Unless the maid has sort-after-experience else be prepared to pay full for her boarding and meals for 21 days. This usually cost same or more than buying her an airticket.

[Coolkidsrock2]

Also need to pay her levy during these 21 days. So long as there is no outstanding loan, best to send back as it is more costly keeping her here.

[esmummy]

I’m not one of those ultra pro-maids but although it is cheaper for us to send them back, the hundreds we save us nothing compared to how much the maids will have to pay the agency to come back. They will be considered ex-Sin maids but will still have to pay 4-5 mth salary for replacement.


Of course if they have misbehaved terribly, then of course they deserve to be sent back without advance notice. Some don’t even deserve to return.

[Coolkidsrock2]

I do understand that everyone has a family to feed and will not frivolously break someone’s rice bowl. I also wish my maids well when they go back.


If the maid is sensible, things will not likely reach such a stage. If and when such a scenerio happens, it is a direct consequence of their behaviour.

[st2]

I believe every employer wants a maid that is honest, do an honest job, follow instructions to take good care of our things and loved ones. It is as simple as that.


The maids know what it costs them to get a job in Singapore, the bad ones try the employer anyway, to see how far they can go. When the day comes they get sent home, they are just dissapointed that they can’t get their way any further.

Sending them home is the best policy because it is straight forward and we don’t have to live each day in anxiety. Things can still happen when they are at the agency because they are still under your name until they are transfered, 14 to 21 days. The fact that it is cheaper is a bonus.

Ultimately, it still cost the maid far less than it cost us as an employer when we have to terminate one maid and start the whole process of employing a new maid, it is not just money it is also our time…take leave…selection of maid, waiting for them to arrive, training them etc. Time is money.