All About Full-Time Maids

[tamarind]

Many maids do not have any common sense, don't expect them to know what is right or wrong.


As employers, it is very important that we tell the maid what is the correct behaviour expected in our household. It is best to come out with a list of houserules for the maid, so the maid knows what is expected of them. Every household is different, what is acceptable in one household, may not be tolerated in another household.

I always think that it is a bad idea for employers to allow their maids help themselves with the food. If the maid eats the same food as the employer, the employer should always take out a reasonable portion of the food for the maid. I have heard of maid who cooked 5 fish for the family, then ate 4 fish by herself. The employer was unhappy with the maid, but then why allow the maid to have the freedom in the first place ?

Check out my blog about how to manage a maid.

http://singaporemaid.blogspot.com/2007/07/how-to-manage-maid.html

[JHJC]

tamarind

thanks for the link, i copied the houserules in a note book for my new replacement maid and read to her…
btw, would you accept a maid that is really short. The info given to me was wrong… she is much shorter than the bio i was given. ABt 1.48. She needs to jump to close my car boot, and use a stool to dry my dishes… and she probably need a high stool to hang my clothes.
Oh… her top front tooth are all dentures…the agent said they will go feedback supplier…i am lost for words… just hope she is a lovely person. This agency is such an experience.

[kaitlynangelica]

Following this thread of discussion, I am wondering if we are too "gniao’ with our maids. I know of many ang mohs who pay their maids $500 to $600 a month, let their maids off every sunday, and even give the maids their own room with TV and air-con. Of course, the maids are much happier working for them.


I personally don’t approve of pp who abuse their maids. I know of someone who has been charged with maid abuse. Amongst one of the many things he did, he starved the maid when he felt that her work was not up to standard.

I know there are many complaints about maids but I do think it works both ways and am wondering if they behave negatively because we don’t treat them well.

[shaz]

For those getting your new maid (or transfer maid) from the agency, I would like to advise that you check if she has head lice. To be on the safe side, buy a bottle of treatment liquid from the pharmacy and make her wash her hair with that for the first few days. My new maid requested for a new pillow and i realised that she finished using the bottle of insecticide within a week. She told me she suspect that the previous maid had head lice and it was a very common problem at the agency as all the maids sleep together in a small room that the agency rented. It was then that I realised how my dd may have gotten head lice some months back when the previous maid joined us. I thought she got it from her friend in school as none of us (fortunately) had it.

[funfantastic4]

Let me share my experience...


I just sent back my maid of 2yrs in June. We wanted to renew her contract but she wanted to go home. She was really a good maid.....she practically ran my household from looking after the kids to cleaning the house to keeping track of my \"inventories\" at home. She was more like our butler than our maid! :lol:

So then I had no other choice but to get a new maid as my mum cannot take are of two young children, a toddler and a newborn with no extra pair of hands. I had the new maid for about 4mths and I finally gave up. She had no clue on how to do housework nor control the kids! We found out later that she used to follow her husband travelling as he is truck driver. That explains why she doesn't know how to run a house! :roll:

Then we recently got another maid who claimed that she has worked in M'sia for 3yrs and HKG for 1+yr. But she is super slow! The good thing about her is she can control the children. However, she lacks common sense. Just the other day, I lost my temper @ the supermarket! I told her to get salad while the kids and I get other dry stuff and we decided on the meeting point. She couldn't find the vege section! The frustrating part is that she went looking for me instead of asking the people around where the vege section was!!!??? I mean DUH! :shock: I thought that was it...then the next wave of frustrations sets in. She went off to look for a basket and then came back and ask how many I wanted?? I was like \"HELLOOOOOOO!!! How many ppl in the house eats salad?\" AARGHHHHH!!! :x

Sometimes I just wonder is it just me??? :? My hubby said that my expectations are high. But my most basic criteria was to just have common sense! Is that too much to ask for? I can live with one being slow but I cannot stand it when someone doesn't use their brains!

[onhindsight]

Am I blessed. You decide.


Actually, my first and last helper lasted for 9 yrs.
On the first day home, she told me something like that
Helper: “Mdm, I don’t know how to cook”.
Me: \t“Can u fried simple veg?”
Helper: “Yes mdm”
Me: \t“Good. Let’s try. If really no good, we will think of something”

Thereafter, we have home-cook food. (of course, you can guess our expectation of food is very low. Definitely not restaurant style but it gets better).

First year, hardworking, a little-bit forgetful but quite smart. Hey, we are not looking for a degree holder to do the job. If we need, mum needs to stay home lah!

In all relationship, it requires a lot of give and take.
She is officially the house-manager and child-guidance. Initially, I had two kids and she has to manage everything from house to getting them ready for school.
My hubby told her that our priority is the kids. If she cannot finish housework, so be it. (I do not know if she sweep the house daily but I know my children are safe and their stomach are fill).
Sometimes, she does things in a certain way and I will try to find out why. Just have to change my mindset if it is not harmful.

To me, all things are like a circle.
Respect her and you have a happier friend in the house.
In turn, your children are happier too which gives you a better peace of mind to work.

Of course, my helper is no angel. Neither am I and my family.
We have our up and down. Sometimes she forgets to do some important task and I will comment “huh, big brain goes holiday again”). She will laugh and say “sorry mdm”

After she left, it was quite heart-breaking and decided to stop getting another.

The nightmare starts: ---------
Kids – bad habit – do not pick up after themselves. (should make them do even when dear helper is around). Expects mum to pick up after them. The funny thing is that one of the kid can prepare coffee for mum. Hmmm…. Not bad – thanks to helper's training

Initially, use disposable (not environment friendly huh -- nobody wants to wash up lah!)
Decided to tingkat. Due to location -- horrible timing (came at 3pm plus), food turns bad.
Change to packet back.
Now, twelve years since and all of us got used to outside food. Only cook on weekend (evening).

Hey, one final note for all.
Strongly recommend (not selling lah!) all to equip a fire-extinguish in the kitchen and other parts of the house. A big Thank You to my helper quick reaction, she managed to put out the stove fire (cannot remember how it got started). Three cheers to my hubby insistent. He insisted that all kids plus helper must be trained to use the fire extinguish as they are at home all the time…… (Oops, I am not train, better start learning…….)

Oh, for those who are interested.
Initially, the first 6 months, no off
7 to 24 months – 1 day off
Then, every Sunday off.

[Belle]

[Moderator's note: Threads merged.]


I am thinking of hiring a domestic helper, either from Myanmar or Burma.

Appreciate any comment or feedback from parents with maid from either one of these countries.

Understand that in terms of communication wise, filipino maid can understand better.

[winth]

Hi Belle,


Not sure the reason why you are considering hiring a maid.
But you can check out the thread http://www.kiasuparents.com/kiasu/forum/viewtopic.php?t=903

[hmsg]

how come u did not consider indonesian helpers?

[Belle]

My second child will be due in a few months. My mum is currently looking after my daughter from Mon to Fri. I think I would need to have an extra hand to help with household chores.


It’s tiring to look after 2 kids and have to take care of house work…

Btw, would also need to hire a confinement lady. Anyone has anybody to recommend or has any one used an agency that provides good confinement services?