All About Full-Time Maids
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Blobbi:
You're right, it's the secretive nature of the whole incident that I don't feel comfortable with. She really doesn't talk much. We have to guess what she's thinking most of the time. We always encourage her to speak out if there are any problems or if she's not happy with something. We're afraid she might do something crazy if she keeps accumulating any resentment toward us. But she does work harder than our former more-sociable maids. So I guess we have to take the good with the bad.I think it's the secretive nature that you dislike - who would like this sort of thing in their own home? This incident of you seeing the food is over, so forget about it. Next time if it happens again, you might want to say loudly but cheerfully, \"What's that?\" Keep it open and friendly, discuss about the recipe even, to show that she has nothing to hide. You might even ask for a spring cleaning. Don't give her warning - just step into the room and say - \"Wah, so dirty - can you get rid of the nespapers?\" Stand around a bit so she feels uncomfortable, and then move off. Have to check later on to make sure she's cleaned it up - if not, just point to what's still annoying you and tell her to do it.
Today she bought some expensive fish for dinner but she didn't take out her food first as usual but wait for us to finish first (b/c the fish is quite small). I think that's quite considerate of her. It's as if she's reading this forum
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m-mommy:
Hihi, any one has experience hiring an ex hongkong maid, any comments to share on these maids, pls share, as mine will be coming next week, totally no idea how to deal with her
It's quite common for hk employers to hire ex-spore maids but not the other way around. HK employers prefer ex-spore maids as they're usually well trained and have lower expectations on benefits (only 1 day off a month etc). Maybe your maid chose to come here b/c she doesn't need to pay a lot of fees upfront. So she could be using Spore as a stepping stone to other countries, unless she has other personal reasons such as having relatives here. But since you've already hired her, just keep your fingers crossed. Good luck! -
Lynn2010, I thought you were really cute!! I have never heard of $10 drink allowance for maid!! Ha…so curiously are you still employing any maids now?
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Hi peapot,
Yes. The currently one is the one I gave $10 drink allowance, she lasted the longest - 8.5 months now. Her work is ok, she’ll do her work and can cook well so I close one eye so long as she is honest and doing her part. Both my hubby & I work and my 2 dd (P5 & S2) at home, so my maid has quite gd life. By 8.30pm, they are usually free to do anything. I allow them to use (their own ph) or sewing or read newspapers; I dont care what they do (of course decent things) so long as they can wake up the next day. I hope she can complete her contract. I really sian changing maids. You have gd agency to recommend or are u running an agency?? -
Lynn2010, wished I had good agency to recommend but sorry zero recommendations. I m also looking for one myself. If you read Tamarind’s blog, you will be able to find out reviews about certain maid agency. That might help for a start. Yes, nobody likes to change maid. When we change maid, the maid agency will be happy to make one more round of profit. As for working moms, not only do we need to spend more money but also apply leave to train the new maid. It does not favour us at all. Ultimately the maid agencies are the one who wins.
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Lynn2010:
Hoohoo! I've had some really dumb ones too. I don't expect super smart lah - that can be lethal. But come on, spaghetti, on it's own, after teaching for a month? I got too many example also.Reading some of the last few post, I feel good that I'm not alone. I also change maid till sian. The lesson I learnt is that - dont be too nice. Just last 3 years - one always bring my daughter to take school bus late, second one not only she gets into fights with my dd, after one mth into the job, she asked for sundays off every week although we agreed alternate Sundays (which was what she asked for during the interview). Third one too gong - teach her to cook sphagetti for a month (everyday same dish), finally asked her to cook sphagetti, she literally cooked JUST the sphagetti and no sauce (that's for dinner). Next, i get a dishonest one always lost money (ask her to pay the school bus driver for example), then I get one keeps on talking on the phone - stuck the stupid earphone in her ears the whole day. Yes, I did tell her I dont like it, but she continued. Then I get one who down a bottle (1.25ml) of coke every 2 days.
I suppose I'm not strict enough, TOO NICE, my agent said and she doesnt want to do my business (I'm not joking). Eg. the one who drinks a bottle of coke every 2 days, after I found out, I told her not to take my drinks at home and I gave her a drink allowance of $10 every month. I told her I dont care what she buys to drink but just dont touch mine!
Yalah, you're too nice. I know I'm too eager to reward too :(. I have this friend - she's very tight with the money for her maid. Every 2 years, just 10% increase (no rounding either!). For dinner if they have guests, the maid gets a packet of maggi. Her policy is absolutely no extras, which means no extra $, no extra conversation etc. Amazingly, this maid (and she's fantastic) has stayed for over 4 years now!!
How come ah? :? -
I think its the maid’s character and her own thinking that makes her stay for so long. I think whether a maid will work long for you, 80% is because of the maid wants to work in singapore. She may be already familiar with the household and wants to be in comfort zone. Moving off may mean getting to know a new household and learn new rules. If she has no qualifications and still wants to work in Singapore, I don’t think how the employer treat her will matter much. Of course there must not be any abuse involved. We presume the employer has treated her as per normal market standards.
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peapot:
I think its the maid's character and her own thinking that makes her stay for so long. I think whether a maid will work long for you, 80% is because of the maid wants to work in singapore. She may be already familiar with the household and wants to be in comfort zone. Moving off may mean getting to know a new household and learn new rules. If she has no qualifications and still wants to work in Singapore, I don't think how the employer treat her will matter much. Of course there must not be any abuse involved. We presume the employer has treated her as per normal market standards.
Agree as well. I just want to be that lucky person to only get these sort of maids. -
Hai looks like negative comments more than the positive one, i spoken to her over the phone, i told her no off day and big family, can u cope, she everything also say can, i have changed 2 maids in 3 months, waste so many time and $$$, really sian, wanna give up, anyway she will be here next week, shall see wat patterns she has :x
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my sis just sent her maid looking after her in-laws home before CNY.maid worked for only 3 mths.She has 2 maids, one maid to look after her in-laws, another to look after her 4 kids.she is not staying with in-laws.
Maid nowadays getting very clever, this problematic one knows that my sis goes bac every fri evening.That very fri, she went back in the afternoon. found maid not in, left the invalid ah ma at home. she waited 3 hrs before maid came back. maid shocked to see her, dared not say anything. my sis called agent, agent came, all the questioning…went to meet BF, old man got wife, grandchidren etc… Agent check her stuffs, found she kept hp in her undies… hp more interesting-got photos of maid and bf,some pics also taken in in-laws hse, x-rated movie too…
my sis really gave up… the previous maid brought "Banga" bf home to do business, got caught when FIL woke up. Bf so scared that he ran off forgetting his underwear. my sis rushed down in the wee hrs, called police & agent… same thing lor, maid sent home, police said no case…
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