Maid to get weekly rest days

Reply to Maid to get weekly rest days on Thu, 28 Feb 2013 05:25:55 GMT

POA Teacher — Thu, 28 Feb 2013 05:25:55 GMT

joanne_mas:
To tell the truth, I will gladly give maid her off days since Sundays we are out. The thing is DH wants her to tag along.

I understand that if we give her off days it is up to her whether she wants to go out or not. We need not pay her for her off days if we do not need her to work. Yup

On the other hand, if say maid wants a off day and does not want us to compensate if we want her to work, it is her right, right? We cannot force her to work, right?Yup I'm just asking in advance :S

You're correct. You cannot force her to work on her day off. She works on her day off only if she is willing to do so, and only if you ask her to do so. Don't exert any pressure on her to do so.

Reply to Maid to get weekly rest days on Thu, 28 Feb 2013 04:54:45 GMT

Funz — Thu, 28 Feb 2013 04:54:45 GMT

If she chooses not to go out but stay in why must pay her. You just don’t expect nor ask her to do any chores on her off days. If she wants to do, that is her choice again, no need to pay.

Reply to Maid to get weekly rest days on Thu, 28 Feb 2013 04:51:37 GMT

janet88 — Thu, 28 Feb 2013 04:51:37 GMT

If maid doesn’t want to go off, have to compensate her leh…if she goes out, she will feel the pinch of taking transport and buying lunch. Brother’s maid doesn’t want to go off…she has car sickness.

Reply to Maid to get weekly rest days on Thu, 28 Feb 2013 04:40:35 GMT

nms1 — Thu, 28 Feb 2013 04:40:35 GMT

joanne_mas:
Hi oneheart,

Sorry to hear you need to get a replacement. If it's any console to you, my current Indo maid's salary is already $470. When we renew her contract this June, we will have to pay for her off day to work. Plus DH wants to increase her pay so I guess it will easily hit more than $550 :X

Hi janet_lee88,
Have not ask my maid yet cos renewal due in June. She told me she does not have much friends in Singapore. Plus our Sundays are always out (DH likes to bring the kids out). DH don't want to give her off day and compensate her but utimately depends if she wants to take it not.

This is a problem that many of us have - maids who don't want a day off!

You can just tell her that she is allowed to take each Sunday off and if she doesn't want to go out she can stay at home. If you are usually out it won't bother you and she can just take it easy.

Reply to Maid to get weekly rest days on Wed, 27 Feb 2013 16:18:23 GMT

sundaymorning — Wed, 27 Feb 2013 16:18:23 GMT

POA Teacher:
You need to pay her the extra only if YOU want her to work on day off. But you can be sure some employers will misinterpret, and pay even when it's the maid who doesn't want to go out.

Then spoil it for everyone else.
Btw, the weekly day off does not apply to your current contracts. Only for those renewing or new work permits wef 2013.

Oh, thank you for clearing my doubts. :)))!

Reply to Maid to get weekly rest days on Tue, 26 Feb 2013 12:06:40 GMT

Harlequin — Tue, 26 Feb 2013 12:06:40 GMT

My maid would clean the house before she goes, exactly what time she leaves the house I have no idea cos we are still in our dreamland, she locks up and go. She would be back by 6pm, though she is not asked to. if we are not in when she comes back, she’ll call me from my house phone to inform us she is back. Has been like this since day one.

Reply to Maid to get weekly rest days on Tue, 26 Feb 2013 11:25:14 GMT

doris.017082damienseah.017082com — Tue, 26 Feb 2013 11:25:14 GMT

Oh… Perhaps I was not clear earlier. My maid’s contract commenced last year, in Dec 2012, hence, she is not entitled to the weekly off. I have a friend’s maid arrived recently, she has no off day, but she is compensated.

Reply to Maid to get weekly rest days on Tue, 26 Feb 2013 10:12:35 GMT

POA Teacher — Tue, 26 Feb 2013 10:12:35 GMT

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.

Your contract cannot void the law. I believe the law says she is entitled to a day off every week (since her contract started in 2013).
Therefore, if you insist on letting her off only 2 days per week, you have to compensate her for the weeks when she doesn't go off. i.e. if there are 4 Sundays, you have to pay her for the 2 Sundays that she works. If there are 5 Sundays, and you give her only 2 days off, you have to pay her for the 3 Sundays that she works.

Reply to Maid to get weekly rest days on Tue, 26 Feb 2013 04:54:44 GMT

doris.017082damienseah.017082com — Tue, 26 Feb 2013 04:54:44 GMT

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?

Reply to Maid to get weekly rest days on Tue, 26 Feb 2013 04:27:53 GMT

Funz — Tue, 26 Feb 2013 04:27:53 GMT

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.

Reply to Maid to get weekly rest days on Tue, 26 Feb 2013 04:19:25 GMT

nms1 — Tue, 26 Feb 2013 04:19:25 GMT

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.

Reply to Maid to get weekly rest days on Tue, 26 Feb 2013 04:12:55 GMT

doris.017082damienseah.017082com — Tue, 26 Feb 2013 04:12:55 GMT

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.

Reply to Maid to get weekly rest days on Tue, 26 Feb 2013 04:00:27 GMT

POA Teacher — Tue, 26 Feb 2013 04:00:27 GMT

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.

Reply to Maid to get weekly rest days on Tue, 26 Feb 2013 03:36:59 GMT

doris.017082damienseah.017082com — Tue, 26 Feb 2013 03:36:59 GMT

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?

Reply to Maid to get weekly rest days on Tue, 26 Feb 2013 03:32:57 GMT

nms1 — Tue, 26 Feb 2013 03:32:57 GMT

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

Reply to Maid to get weekly rest days on Tue, 26 Feb 2013 03:22:03 GMT

doris.017082damienseah.017082com — Tue, 26 Feb 2013 03:22:03 GMT

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.

Reply to Maid to get weekly rest days on Mon, 25 Feb 2013 04:04:57 GMT

janet88 — Mon, 25 Feb 2013 04:04:57 GMT

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.

Reply to Maid to get weekly rest days on Mon, 25 Feb 2013 03:49:32 GMT

Funz — Mon, 25 Feb 2013 03:49:32 GMT

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.

Reply to Maid to get weekly rest days on Mon, 25 Feb 2013 03:44:19 GMT

nms1 — Mon, 25 Feb 2013 03:44:19 GMT

junemum72:
janet_lee88:
[quote=\"oneheart\"]I wldn't mind giving off on Sun where I can get to spend family time with my family without her taggin along. But I don't like their non-negotiable attitude. There are bound to be certain Sun when I need her to be around eg if I'm hosting birthday parties etc

Same here...I wanted maid to go out so that we can have family time without her...either we stayed at home or go shopping. Maids should learn to compromise...not have a die-die must have off day on certain days.

The other reason why I wanted her to have off day is to let her know how much it costs to take 2 meals outside plus taking transport.

Hmm.. can i ask if it is true we do not have to provide dinner for them during their off day? Or it depends on individual?

Usually what time you let them go out and come back?[/quote]Our maid usually comes back around 6pm; she is allowed to stay out later but just needs to let me know first. She will take dinner at home if she is hungry but quite often she will eat a lot at lunchtime and will only take a snack. I had never really thought about not giving her dinner.

Reply to Maid to get weekly rest days on Mon, 25 Feb 2013 03:38:28 GMT

janet88 — Mon, 25 Feb 2013 03:38:28 GMT

junemum72:
janet_lee88:
[quote=\"oneheart\"]I wldn't mind giving off on Sun where I can get to spend family time with my family without her taggin along. But I don't like their non-negotiable attitude. There are bound to be certain Sun when I need her to be around eg if I'm hosting birthday parties etc

The other reason why I wanted her to have off day is to let her know how much it costs to take 2 meals outside plus taking transport.

Usually what time you let them go out and come back?[/quote]She went out at 10+am, returned at 7.
Took lunch outside, dinner as well. Dinner not provided.

Reply to Maid to get weekly rest days on Mon, 25 Feb 2013 03:34:28 GMT

junemum72 — Mon, 25 Feb 2013 03:34:28 GMT

janet_lee88:
oneheart:
I wldn't mind giving off on Sun where I can get to spend family time with my family without her taggin along. But I don't like their non-negotiable attitude. There are bound to be certain Sun when I need her to be around eg if I'm hosting birthday parties etc

Same here...I wanted maid to go out so that we can have family time without her...either we stayed at home or go shopping. Maids should learn to compromise...not have a die-die must have off day on certain days.

The other reason why I wanted her to have off day is to let her know how much it costs to take 2 meals outside plus taking transport.

Hmm.. can i ask if it is true we do not have to provide dinner for them during their off day? Or it depends on individual?

Usually what time you let them go out and come back?

Reply to Maid to get weekly rest days on Mon, 25 Feb 2013 03:27:07 GMT

janet88 — Mon, 25 Feb 2013 03:27:07 GMT

oneheart:
I wldn't mind giving off on Sun where I can get to spend family time with my family without her taggin along. But I don't like their non-negotiable attitude. There are bound to be certain Sun when I need her to be around eg if I'm hosting birthday parties etc

Same here...I wanted maid to go out so that we can have family time without her...either we stayed at home or go shopping. Maids should learn to compromise...not have a die-die must have off day on certain days.

The other reason why I wanted her to have off day is to let her know how much it costs to take 2 meals outside plus taking transport.