All About Full-Time Maids

[oneheart]

nms1:

oneheart:

Just discovered a FB pg set up by maids 'A maid's eye view of SG employers'.


How free are these maids to be on FB?!? Sharing of happenings in employer's household is not right. If they really dun like it here, then don't work here.

I once interviewed an ex-SG trf maid. She insists on having hp. Even when I told her can only use after working hrs, let me keep the hp during work hours.She insists that she won't use the hp, just keep it in pocket. Needless to say, I rejected her. And what's worst the agency sided with the maid saying SG employers are so strict that maids now prefer to to Taiwain & HK etc. :yikes:

Just to point something out - you have time to post here and to read FB so why shouldn't they? Maids do not work 24 hours/day; if they choose to spend their spare time on FB that is up to them. If they do it when they are supposed to be working or post pictures of your family that is a different issue but simply being on FB is not.

It is comments like that which lead maids to prefer TW/HK.

Yes, they don't work 24 hours a day. Just don't cry mother, cry father and say not enough rest, overwork etc. Now, they got they off days plus phone usage...life still not good?

With hp with them 24 hours, how are employers to know they are using it at appropriate time ie during their rest time. Ok, so you use after working hours...yakkety yak till wee hours...not enough sleep, keep yawning the next day or even worst take time to nap. How to remain alert when looking after young child?

Yes, no issue if they want to be on FB but to share stories for the world to know about the happenings in employer's household...don't mention FB but to your neighbours etc.....it's just not right.

[KSmom8]

KSmom8:

peapot:

Philip maid are all the same, Demanding! Since she is so calculative then u should do the same to her. KSmom any reason why u still keeping her? I guess now changing maid is also a headache for employer. I always think if u are not ready to accommodate Maid frequent demand, best not to hire Philip maid.

I didn't expect this Phil maid to be so calculative. Really a first for me.

I know that Phil maids are more demanding than maids of other nationalities. The Phil maids who worked for me previously completed / renewed their contracts. My maids have her own room and get to keep her hand phone 24/7. My place is hdb so not big, usually can finish chores by early afternoon, and gets to retire to her room by 9pm usually. They didn't make additional demands and took pride in their work.

On the other hand, I haven't had much luck with Indo maids. Those who worked for me were good initially, but later gave lots of problems, eg lies, stealing, sloppy work etc.

Anyway, my Phil maid did agree most reluctantly and with a black face to tidy the house etc before she leaves for her next off day. Anyway, i said it was her decision, just like it is my decision whether to give her advance pay on her off day. Later, I spoke to agent to clarify and she will speak to my maid. Agent confirmed that it is fine to do light chores such as tidying the house, washing dishes, throwing garbage, before and after maid goes for off day. She was shocked that my maid was so inflexible and asked to be paid for these chores. Agent said this attitude is not right on maid's part.

For moment, will keep my maid cos she is quite kwai after I gave her ultimatum. I will take it that her understanding of off day was misinformed, though to me, it does show her true character.

[KSmom8]

isetan:

Ksmom, your endurance is so good. If it were me, I will show her the door, even if it takes me pain to find another one.

Most of my maids either completed or renewed their contracts, except for one who was so homesick and the Indo maids who stole and lied. I try my best not to transfer during their loan period, cos the maids spent a lot to come here to work and for me to return them to agent means that they will have to pay additional commission to the agent. Also if transfer, means the problem is passed to another employer. So if they are ok, usually I will close one and sometimes two eyes. Then if I can tolerate for 6 to 8 months (usual loan period), I end up tolerating till end of contract, unless they are dishonest.

Haha.... My mum also asked why I'm keeping this Phil maid since she is so fussy and calculative.

When she first came, her learning curve was steep cos I had to focus on DC1's PSLE preparations. She really helped a lot. Basically, her cleaning is good, no need to ask her to do again almost all the time....though inefficient.

But later. she showed she was fussy with food, had lots of complaints eg too much work and not enough rest ( though she was in her room at 9 plus on almost all nights ). Her \"i won't lift a finger to do anything\" attitude on her first off day was probably the last straw so shortly after, on her next complaint over something very trivial, I could not tolerate and gave her an ultimatum to transfer or be sent home. After that, she conceded that workload was okay, she wanted to stay and have been kwai kwai.

As long as she kwai kwai perform her chores well, don't give me more headaches, I'll keep her. But really, if she still does not get it after agent speaks to her and gives me more grief, she will be shown the door. After this maid, I will probably look for a part time maid ( though I heard also tough to find good one ) as my kids are older. It's time that kids and DH learn to be independent. I'm looking forward to more privacy when that day comes.

[vinegar]

sigh…how many maids outside hv self discipline n control over the use of hp?


even tutor can’t do that.

[KSmom8]

vinegar:

sigh...how many maids outside hv self discipline n control over the use of hp?


even tutor can't do that.

That's true. My DS also started to have hand phone beside him almost everywhere he goes.... I'm the opposite, my hand phone in my bag most of time, SMS and ring sometimes don't hear. But still feel uncomfortable if I leave the phone at home.

My maid once tried to complain that she didn't have 8 hours sleep. I asked why is that so when she retires to her room at 9 plus almost every night. She said she needed to read bible, SMS / talk to her family, etc. I almost fainted. So ridiculous... Told her contract says 8 hours REST, if she chooses to stay awake till very late, then she should not complain to me.

My maid has her Hp with her 24/7. I tolerate the occasional SMS. However, agent told her no talking during work time, so she does not talk on phone during the day ( at least not in my presence ). To me, as long as the chores are done well and finished, she can also rest and do her own stuff during the day.

As much as i hope that maids will have self control, I'm also concerned that some maids will talk / SMS till late. Then next day, not enough sleep and cranky. Could take it out on kids and elderly. That's why I try as much as possible never to leave maid alone with my kids.

[yanyan]

Hi,


Need some advise here.

My current myan maid is new…about a month old… I’m planning to go holidays in june for a week without bringing her along. Do u think it is advisable to leave her at home? Or put her at agency for tat week?

[pinkybear]

yanyan:

Hi,


Need some advise here.

My current myan maid is new..about a month old.. I'm planning to go holidays in june for a week without bringing her along. Do u think it is advisable to leave her at home? Or put her at agency for tat week?

the disadvantage of leaving her at agency, she will learn the bad tricks from other maids. are you able to put her at your parents' or sibling's place?

[peapot]

Yanyan, since only 1 month old then suggest u leave her with some relative or friends. When she is there she can learn general housekeeping and cooking . If she is an experienced maid it will be refresher course. If she is inexperience maid then this could be the training ground for her.


If u leave her at agency she won’t learn anything, waste of time. I don’t think picking up bad habits from other maids is an issue. After all now all maids have at least one off day? Won’t they also pick up bad habits on their off days?

[yanyan]

Hi,


Thanks for ur advise…i actually wanna put her at my mil hse but hb not willing to…say inconvenient to his parents…later they dun give her work to do end up still hv to serve her…haiz… So most likely put her at agent’s hse…

[Hiaweh]

Better u put her at the agency because MOM regulation is that she is not allowed to work at other addresses besides the employer’s address. So if u put her at relatives house, n she complain you will get into trouble. By leaving her at agency also has it’s risk so it’s what kind of risk you are willing to take.