All About Full-Time Maids

[moonee]

janet_lee88:

I'm so scared of these maids and the impressive LIES they tell.

So I made copies of the amount they receive each month and make them counter-sign against their name. This way, they cannot tell agent or embassy I didn't pay them.

Then before I sent them back, I make them sign again the amount they received. These maids are super good at weaving stories...so I have to protect myself bcos our dear MOM doesn't side us employers.

I have a note book for the maid, I get her to write the date and to state tat she received her salary. She can write it anyway she wants as long as I get it in her own handwriting. It takes less then one line to write \"I rcvd (amount) today for the month of (....)\" and signed.
Any money that she want me to keep would also b stated in this book. Whats important to me is that its written and signed by her.

[janet88]

Hubby & I treated all our maids as part of the family…do not allow kids to say that she is a maid. We ate mostly chicken with her around, get her chicken pau, buy her phone cards as ‘bonus or incentive’, bring her out shopping with us. At the end of the day, she climbed on top of my head.

I’ve had enough of them…which is why I refused to get another one.
It’s been almost 2 years (this Nov) without a maid and we are getting on happily. In fact, without a maid, time seems to pass faster.

[i3mum]

I agree with you.. if I can make do without a maid, I will definitely go without one! But my fillial DH wants to provide for his mum as she comes & help, so we got no choice... I m wondering how long we are going to have a maid & how long we have to go through all these nonsenses... maids are mostly problematic..... I would say 90% of them

janet_lee88:

Hubby & I treated all our maids as part of the family...do not allow kids to say that she is a maid. We ate mostly chicken with her around, get her chicken pau, buy her phone cards as 'bonus or incentive', bring her out shopping with us. At the end of the day, she climbed on top of my head.
I've had enough of them...which is why I refused to get another one.
It's been almost 2 years (this Nov) without a maid and we are getting on happily. In fact, without a maid, time seems to pass faster.

[i3mum]

I agree too! For my 1st maid, we also treated her as part of our family, but she went overboard. Mentioned that we went for overseas holiday & bring her along.. etc.. and when we realised she sow discord between me & my mil, I was disappointed more than angry. We treated her like part of our family, yet she turned around & did nasty things to us, in the hope of being favoured. After that I learnt my lesson, our relationship will be strictly \"Employer\" & \"Employee\".

LKVM:

The same problem with us tooo :stupid: maybe we shouldnt be treating them as family anymore should be treated as maid only then there will not be issues i think... cause even if they dont like u atleast u didnt like them too

[i3mum]

Sigh... I can say these maids are very foolish! I think hey will recieve their retribution! :x

LKVM:

Yes same thing happened to us with the 1st maid :stupid:

[hquek]

i3mum:

Thanks hquek. Should I record down those wrong doings she has done before now too? Then ask her to countersign?

No lah, before a bit too late. Start afresh. I started my notebook about a year after ex-maid was with me. Just couldn't stand that she kept forgetting this and that. But you should be fair and tell her this is not acceptable first and if she does it again, then write down - no fair if you had never told her.

BTW, my ex-maid was pretty ok, but there would be times when she started showing not so good attitude. And for her, becos she didn't have phone card (too thrifty), I would ask her to call back home (on my expense, and I was ok becos she will not make phone porridge on my account). After a round, she'll be ok (probably cos she remember what she is in SG suffering for).

[hquek]

i3mum:

Wow, u mean u photocopy the $?


Usually I will make them sign for the amount they received at the end of the month.

janet_lee88:

I'm so scared of these maids and the impressive LIES they tell.
So I made copies of the amount they receive each month and make them counter-sign against their name. This way, they cannot tell agent or embassy I didn't pay them.

Then before I sent them back, I make them sign again the amount they received. These maids are super good at weaving stories...so I have to protect myself bcos our dear MOM doesn't side us employers.

For me, before the maid earns enough, I will have a note book that states how much they receive and if they took any monies out to buy stuff. I also will keep any remittance receipt (becos I will be there to assist her mah) and receipts of her spending where possible. Yes, I believe in protecting my ass.

ONce she has accumulated enough, I'll go open an account for her. All deposits in there promptly each month. And if she take any money out, I'll get her to countersign on the bank book itself. Like that cannot run.

This is only possible becos I dun allow maid to keep money with her (in case mix up, I don't want to falsely accuse her of anything). She's free to spend, I'll pay for it first and deduct from her account.

[hquek]

noixlml:

So maybe with the post pregnancy hormones, I am feeling very overwhelmed with the 4 kids and minding another person. She is so far ok albeit forgetful which is expected but than again it's only been 3 weeks and hubby is at home so she wouldn't dare pull any stunts. Figured only after 8 months than I can assess her character better before trusting her. BTW, do you keep your housekeys with you? Or you leave it out in the open cuz she has to open the door for my son to go out to school in the early morning. Any advise? My hubby thinks I'm over paranoid.

When my maid was new and staying at my place, I kept the housekeys when I'm sleeping. But after a few months (after she clear her debts), I'll leave the housekeys outside my room so she can do what she has to. But that's becos she won't need to open the door until I am awake. You have to do what is needed, if there is a reason for her to open the door, just leave the keys outside.

Take care of your health during this time and congratulations on your 4th

[limlim]

i3mum:

Wow, u mean u photocopy the $?

It is an offence to photocopy the SG currency.. fyi..

[jollyme]

my indon helper current salary is S$350 a month. her 2-year contract will end early next year and she’s asking for a S$50/mth increase in salary. anyone knows what’s the market rate for indon now?