Maid to get weekly rest days

[Funz]

My maid started out without off days and after 6mths with us, she was given 1 off day a month plus off on hari raya after her 5th year with us, we allowed her weekly off but she preferred not to go out. Her off day was on a week day previously but since kiddos started primary school, we have been giving her off days on weekends.


Starting this year, she signed up for some courses and will head for class every Sunday morning at about 8am. She will still prepare breakfast for us before she heads out even though I never expected her to. She will come home after lunch and once she is home, she will pick up from where she left off. She is due to go back this year but has decided that she wants to stay on for another 2 yrs. This is her 8th year with us.

[janet88]

I don’t believe in being calculative with maid. But she made me so fed up.

That’s why I told her to have her meals outside on her off days.

There is this Indo maid I know of…she has her Sundays off and the family goes out for both meals. This maid will cook her rice and simple meal before she goes out…that’s for dinner. She said eating lunch outside can easily costs $5-6 excluding transport and buying stuff.

[doris.017082damienseah.017082com]

Hi,


My maid is entitled to 2 off days per month (ie. 7th jan to 7th feb) as she started with me on 7th. Usually, 2 offs per month is equavalent to alternate month, but I noticed some months, there are 5 Sundays. Want to know if we still give the off days on alternate Sundays or month that has 5 weeks, we skip 1 Sunday.

Kindly share your experience. Thanks.

[nms1]

dd:

Hi,


My maid is entitled to 2 off days per month (ie. 7th jan to 7th feb) as she started with me on 7th. Usually, 2 offs per month is equavalent to alternate month, but I noticed some months, there are 5 Sundays. Want to know if we still give the off days on alternate Sundays or month that has 5 weeks, we skip 1 Sunday.

Kindly share your experience. Thanks.

Usually you will skip the 5th Sunday so she still has 2 Sundays off in that month. Hence, maids don't like months with 5 Sundays

[doris.017082damienseah.017082com]

Thanks nms.


If lets say she wants to go on the 5th Sunday, I would deem it as extra. How much does an off day worth? How to calculate?

[POA Teacher]

dd:

Thanks nms.


If lets say she wants to go on the 5th Sunday, I would deem it as extra. How much does an off day worth? How to calculate?

As she is entitled to WEEKLY day- off on Sunday, she is entitled to having EVERY Sunday off, no matter how many Sundays there are in any particular month.
So if you want her to work on some Sundays, you have to compensate her for each Sunday that she works.

[doris.017082damienseah.017082com]

POA Teacher,

My maid’s entitlement is 2 off days per month. I follow the basis of starting date 7th as she is also paid on this date.

Her contract states 2 off per month. So, when months that has 5 Sundays, she will end up getting 3 sundays within the month. Understand that weekly off day will get every sunday despite 5 weeks month.

[nms1]

dd:

POA Teacher,

My maid's entitlement is 2 off days per month. I follow the basis of starting date 7th as she is also paid on this date.

Her contract states 2 off per month. So, when months that has 5 Sundays, she will end up getting 3 sundays within the month. Understand that weekly off day will get every sunday despite 5 weeks month.

I would suggest that for the sake of simplicity you count from the 1st of the month even if you pay her on the 7th. Then say that she has either the 1st & 3rd or 2nd and 4th Sundays off. If you are paying her on the 7th she will probably want to 2nd & 4th.

[Funz]

Way I read it, 2 days off a month means 2 days off. She can take consecutive 2 Sundays and work the other Sundays or she can take alternate Sundays but will only go off 2 times a month.


Personally, I tend to adopt a strict adherence to the arrangement with no deviation until I am sure the maid will reciprocate flexibilities given. If their attitude is good and they show that they have the maturity to handle their freedom, I may let them take that occasional 3rd Sunday off as encouragement. No pay deducted.

I think MOM has a way to calculate payment of leave so if we have to compensate that much for them to work, we will also deduct the same amount if they go off on days they are suppose to work. For most cases now, the calculation will be Salary/26working days. That is their per day rate. For your case, she works 28 days so salary/28 working days.

[doris.017082damienseah.017082com]

Thanks for the advice and suggestion.


I also read it as off 2 times per month. She is still very new and have not proven her worth yet, so, I may start with 2 times a month approach.

From the start, her off hours is about 10.45am to 9pm. However, last Sunday, for the 1st time, I told her to come back by 8.45pm as I find it quite late cos next day, kids have morning school.

End up, she was home at 8.55pm cos she was chatting with other maid downstairs. I was very disappointed with her attitude as I feel that allowing her to stay out till 8.45pm is already very long. Neighbours maids or generally, I heard, maids are to be back by 7pm. When I told her my neighbour’s maid is back by 6plus, she has the cheek to tell me neighbour maid goes out at 8.30am. So, when I told her, ok, then next time you can go at 8.30am to 6.30pm, but she didn’t want.


Can you all share what is the usual off hours?