All About Full-Time Maids

[Joeyz18]

LKVM:

Joeyz18:

[quote=\"LKVM\"]I too will bring along my maid in most of the outings!!! but if we are going for long vacation then I will either bring her along with me or else if thats not feasible will keep her to my agent.. wont leave her at home

sorry ar.., i am new to employing maid, and i just knew from your post that employer can choose to leave maid with agent. how much to pay agent for the service?

Last time was 10 dollars now they have increased and I have to pay 15 dollars per day [/quote]i don't mind paying $15 if someone can watch my maid!! i scare to leave maid alone at home. actually i am worrying in advance as i am still in the stage of finding a good agent and just last few days mi and hb decided to get myanmar.

[Angelight]

I'm also getting a Myanmar maid this time, previous one was Indon. Heard that Myanmar maid is more mild mannered though a slower worker. But I'm willing to train from scratch, after having ex-Sin maids who have attitude problems. Hopefully this fresh maid will turn out well for me.

[Angelight]

LKVM:

Angelight:

I'm also getting a Myanmar maid this time, previous one was Indon. Heard that Myanmar maid is more mild mannered though a slower worker. But I'm willing to train from scratch, after having ex-Sin maids who have attitude problems. Hopefully this fresh maid will turn out well for me.

Yes I too have heard bout it.. please update us with your progress!!!!!!

Sure, LKVM. My only concern with fresh maid is communication. Their English is not so gd, so I expect initial part may be challenging. But I really have phobia with experienced ex-Sin maids with attitude problems that I guess having a fresh maid with poor English for a start is lesser of the '2 evils'.

[DesertWind]

Breadandmuffins:

Quite new cos I think she joined some social/sports group abt the same time that we noticed her using the phone late at nite(sometimes close to midnite). That was 1 year ago . First 6yrs, maybe not so many friends yet. We spoke to her and asked her if she got problems at home & she said something like cousin got problem (on hindsight, I think its not true cos during the next two sessions with her she said her late calls are only chit chat). At that time, I also did not know if she used a lot during the day. Stopped for a few wks and then she started to talk till late again. ALso start to be impatient with my kids. My MIL who visits once a wk also ask me why she looked so tired. But as she was abt to go home leave, we thought ok, let it be maybe got many things to arrange. After come back from home leave, started to talk late again and that's when I decided to chk her phone. (I never touched her things for 6yrs). Surprised...several calls or sms in/out thru'out the day when I was out (sometimes as soon as I stepped out of the door). Mainly in the afternoons & also when my baby is awake. My baby does not like her phone cos she will make some sound and pushed it away each time she saw me looking at it. I did not speak to her immediately but monitored for abt 3mths. At the same time, I also noticed sometimes the things looked the same as before I left. The last straw came when I saw a call out one sat morning lasting more than 50min & I left 3 kids (4,6,8yrs) with her plus some hsework at home. I did not want to confront her cos I know I will not be able to chk her phone after that but I had to for the safety of my kids. She denied but admitted after I asked her why she had so may calls (sometimes more than 10calls) a day. She was very angry with us that we chk ed her phone. I was very upset & said something nasty.She was blacked faced for a few weeks and it was CNY and my parents/MIL asked me why she was so black faced to pple??? I apologised to her sometime later for the remarks I made. To cut the long story short, she did not stop using in the day or till late at nite and she hid her phone away or carry with her all the time esp in the toilet. A few wks ago, I asked her what she did one of the afternoon cos I noticed some hsework not done,she was very defensive and argued back to me and I said you can go back home. I said something , she argued back each time and I told her to start packing. I asked her so where do you think you can go. She said embassy?? Imagine telling the embassy pple that I came cos my mam said no HP during day (nite ok from 9.30 to 11/11.30pm) I called my DH to come back early to settle this cos I am on the verge of bursting already. My DH is a very patient man and explained to her why I behaved like this (cos I am a mother of 4 & she is single) and that even at workplace, it is not ok to chit chat & neglect your work. She told me and my DH that she cannot stop using during day. She sort of cooled down later & I also decided that its too tiring to continue in this way when there is no trust anymore. Reason why I cannot allow HP in day is very simple-I am a sahm with 4kids (2,4,6 ,8yrs), at any pt in time, got kids plus hsewk during the day, I share the wkload by bringing kids out with me for marketing/errand/school runs when I see that there is hsework/cooking to be done. plus my hse on high flr and got no grills yet. Imagine my frustration when I had a hard time at the supermkt cos baby does not want to sit at the trolley & I come back to find out that she used phone while I brought the kids out so as to relieve her. My trolley is always very full as you can imagine(diapers/milk powder etc). Sometime, the cashier is so helpful and help me push to the car.cos I can't carry baby one hand and pushed the heavy trolley.....sometimes some kind soul behind me also help me.....sigh.......

Hi Bread&muffins,
Wah, sounds like \"familiarity breads contempt\" already. Perhaps the maid has worked too long for you already now \"bochup\". May be better to let her go if she does not protest and get another maid who can help you without getting so distracted!
:celebrate:

[DesertWind]

moonee:

Just curious, do u all raise yr maids salary after her loan or stick to the same salary recommended for 2 yrs. Do u give bonus as an incentive?

Hi Moonee,
For my good Indon. maid, she joined us in Sept. and after 3 months, we found her to be excellent help and gave her 1-month bonus at year-end before her loan was fully repaid. She was so happy she called home to send back the money because she borrowed some money from relatives in order to come here to work.

After that, during CNY, she got ang-pows from us and relatives when we go visiting. Then couple of months later her birthday we also gave her ang pow. That means during the 7 months without salary, actually she still get money through the above. I believe it sort of encouraged her to do her best as well.

Each year so far I think we gave her 2 months bonus (1 mth from me, another from hubby). As for increment, after 2 years then I increase SGD20 a bit only in front of the embassy officer.

However in her third year, so far I think I have raised 2 times for her since she hinted about her pay (she spoke to her friends on her outings who apparently told her to ask for more). Her pay now is still below SGD500.

When she goes for off-days, I gave her SGD20/= for her transport and meals.
:celebrate:

[tansan]

hi all,

im new in this forum and also new in engaging a maid. can any kind soul provide me with recommended maid agency and perhaps advice me which nationalities of maid to engage.

many thanks in advance!

[DesertWind]

LKVM:

DesertWind:

That means during the 7 months without salary, actually she still get money through the above. I believe it sort of encouraged her to do her best as well.

Not all maids will appreciate it... and some may think its their right to be paid extra!! so guess if she behaving still so well I am sure ur very lucky :celebrate:

Hi LKVM,
Some think it is their right to be paid extra? :!:
Perhaps those very experienced and already spoiled by other employers?

How is your maid so far? Since our last discussion you were thinking about sending her back right? So have you decided already?

:celebrate:

[Angelight]

DesertWind, you are quite generous to your maid, yet she still asks for more pay :shock: , guess that is the result of going out on off days when she gets to meet her friends and compare this and that.


My previous maid also 'changed' after she went on her off day, and became very discontented and argumentative after that...

That's why I'm abit hesistant now whether to give the next maid off day or not. Personally I do feel the maid shld have at least one off day a month so that she can run her own errand instead of having to face the employer 365 days a year, 24 by 7. But on the other hand, when they go on off days, they meet other people and start comparing this and that. There is also the worry that they may mix with the wrong company. So what gives? Any one has any advice or sharings for me?

[DesertWind]

Angelight:

DesertWind, you are quite generous to your maid, yet she still asks for more pay :shock: , guess that is the result of going out on off days when she gets to meet her friends and compare this and that.


My previous maid also 'changed' after she went on her off day, and became very discontented and argumentative after that...

That's why I'm abit hesistant now whether to give the next maid off day or not. Personally I do feel the maid shld have at least one off day a month so that she can run her own errand instead of having to face the employer 365 days a year, 24 by 7. But on the other hand, when they go on off days, they meet other people and start comparing this and that. There is also the worry that they may mix with the wrong company. So what gives? Any one has any advice or sharings for me?

Hi Angelight,

My maid have zero off-days during her 1st 2-years with me as it was stated in contract she prefers to take extra money instead. She also had no hand-phone for 2 years.

In her 3rd year after contract renewal, I offered to give her off days and she asked for 1-day off every 2 months. Bearing in mind I allowed her to go home for 2-weeks every year hence if you want to count, she already have \"off-days\" in this way. So 1 off-day every 2 months plus 2-weeks per year sort of equivalent to 1 off day each month.

Because I asked her which she prefers and she wants to go home every year so give up more off-days. She also \"automatic\" because she said she knows she cannot have everything! (That's why I like her you see? This maid is intelligent and understanding! :lol: )

As for her friends, I asked her where she finds them? She said most met on the plane, just say hello, talk and then exchange phone numbers to go out. After each outing, we will chat and I ask her where she & friends go, what they do, what they eat, buy etc... just chatting not interogating!

As for the pay increase, actually she just hinted that her friends told her we cannot get maid with her experience at this pay anymore. I can choose to ignore it but want to increase for her since she good helper. But yes, a bit \"painful\" initially because I already am quite generous with her in other ways (ie. those bonus, ang pows and I did not mentioned before when my husband and me sold our apartments, we also gave her 2 months extra!).

But since at 3 years her pay still below SGD500 and she takes care of my boy really well, I feel it is only right to give her more. Comparatively if I were to get a local nanny, minimum pay now is at least SGD500 to SGD600. So this maid takes care of boy and do housework too so I deem it worth-while. Of course we got to pay maid - levy which is additional cost (but not to maid leh). We also provide food and lodgings hence all adds up to quite a lot of money. But then I am working so OK lah (money is \"outside-body\" item! ).

Other things I gave my maid:
1. Brand new perfume which comes with the perfume I bought.
2. Also new watch (about SGD400) which my colleagues gave me but I hardly wear.
3. Diamond pendant from LEE HWA and white-gold necklace. Also a gift from colleagues I hardly use (it brings bad memories for me).
4. Those free handbags that come with cosmetics purchases. Also free cosmetics from Clinique that comes with skin-care products I buy.
5. Clothes from me that I can no longer wear. Recently brought her to buy new jeans and tops from OG. Also pants from Marks & Spencer (because she is quite big size #16 leh so might as well buy quality stuff!).
6. Old baby / kids clothes my son no longer can wear she brought back to Indo. for her relatives.
7. Brand new shoes/sandals.
8. Recently gave up buying clothes for her girl just gave her SGD100 to go shopping on her own before she goes home.

When she goes out with her friends using all the above, her friends asked her where she buys them? She said all from ma'am! ke..ke..ke..

But I read here somebody gave her maid 5 months bonus!
:!:
Wah, I not so generous leh!

:celebrate:

[moonee]

Desertwind… u are really very generous and so are a lot of others who posted here. None of my maids stayed long enuf to enjoy any monetary benefits. I only gave one a 300 dollar angpow on her last day plus loads of toys bags and gifts. She deserved it. As for the recent maids I had and have now, they r lucky i didnt cut their pay.

I normally assess their performance and attitude, if I have one that is honest , I will give her a yearly bonus and shower her with gifts. JUst too bad , I m very dissapointed again this year with my current Mynmar maid and am going tru biodatas again :x :x