Frustrated with the helper

[sandy0741]

It can be seen that you were nice to your previous helper but it's unbelievable to see her treating you like this. Sometimes, I am also feeling the same, starting to ask when I have got a helper, why is it that I still need to cook myself, and most of the time when I got day off, I will be looking after my son 24 hours a day, while she will just be prolonging the time for every work so she doesn't need to do much while I am doing the others for her. Even if she is asked to do the cleaning job, she will just wipe things a little bit, but you can still see dirt, dust around in the kitchen , washroom and so on... I just get so irritated whenever I see her. I'm glad that you're over with your previous one, and found a better one.
Just want to ask you what issues had she raised after termination to take you to court? Even if you have signed everything, what can she still do? Do you also think Filipina are better than Indonesian?

[W2BMOM]

We took her to the agency and thought everything was settled and although she signed the proof of receipt, we were to issue her the ticket within that week (it was so sudden and our first time, we were not prepared, just did wat the agent told us) which we did.

Trouble started when agent told us, she was not at boarding house that night and a few days later agent told us, she disappeared and left her luggage behind. Sounds like non of our business anymore rite? Then I searched for her at the church (she mentioned so many times about the good times she had with the people there etc etc), but found out there's no such person, and no such pastor as mentioned.

Then agent told us she turned up with some union people to claim her luggage and said she wanna sue coz' she didn't receive the payments. What nonsense rite? And becoz of this, me and my hubby had argued so much due to his busy work and me struggling with a 10mth old clingy breastfed baby. I couldn't tend to the matter myself and hubby was very busy. But he did wat he could, went to labour dept right away with all supporting documents, receipts and even consulted a lawyer friend but still nothing could be done.

Can u imagine such injustice can happen here in Hkg? If you say I'm the one in the wrong, it's fine and I deserve this "punishment" but we've paid more than we bargained for. I can't possible bear with her attitude and laziness for the sake of being a compassionate employer?

Hubby and the helper met at the labour dept, she refused to settle the matter amicably and she insisted on "suing" for reason being she didn't receive the payment. All this just so that she could remain here in Hkg to look for another job. And all these so that she could prolong her stay! At the labour dept she even accused the agent for not paying her the money. That also made us suspicious of the agent. Could be problem between her and the maid but they just push the problem back to us coz' we are the employer?

Anyway, hubby and them went to court and we settled the expired air ticket payment and that was it. She even has the guts to demand for HKD1000 instead of airticket! We just paid and forget about pursuing the matter further which we could have done if not for all the hassle involved. Not worth it!

To answer your question, even if we've signed everything, she can still make accusations/claims that she did not receive the payment. And don't think they're stupxd.. they are definitely smarter than u think! They just play stupid. As for the next question, I personally think it's nothing to do with racial/nationality as there are definitely some good ones out there. It's more of a personality problem. The reason we hire a Filipina this time is becoz she's recommended by my FIL's ex maid (her cousin) and we have reference fr previous employer this time. The previous helper was recruited overseas (1st time in Hkg) and we just chose an agent at random. It's just her first few months (4 mths) in Hkg and she's already such a pro ... I wish her next employer good luck!.. lol!

[JeremyValerie]

Hi all
It feels so good to ease some anger! We got rid of our helper 6 weeks ago, I thought I was going to 'kill' her. I was so irritated after a few weeks, I was dying to go back to work after my mat leave in order not to see her hiding in the kitchen do nothing, or walk so slowly in the house, etc.
Although I think she was a great help at the beginning when the baby was little (you know how new parents don't really dare or don't 'know' how to do some stuff), but she was absolutely useless at cleaning, and we also realised she didn't talk to the baby, she was just carrying her looking at the window. And she would always find excuses!
We just had enough when during the big easter weekend (followed by 10 days off a week later) she didn't even offer her help for an hour or 2.
We just sent her home with the month's pay, and hired a new one. We had to borrow helpers to cover, but we don't regret our decision, every one of them was so much better!

Whether we like it or not, they are such a big part of our lives and family that we need to be happy and not force ourselves to cope with a miserable situation. A bit like any other relationship I think....

[carang]

"Do you also think Filipina are better than Indonesian?"

come on... that is racist. that's like asking if you think chinese or western employers are better or worse...

nationalities don't matter! what matters is PERSONALITIES!

[Hunter]

Generally, Filippina DHs are more educated and more experienced, and they do have more common sense because of their background. I am not sure if you have experienced Indonesian DHs, but believe me, they can really really drive you nuts, at least my inlaw's are driving me nuts. They do their work without thinking, such as doing laundry when it is pouring out there, washing the dishes without making the dining table clear and clean first, etc etc....
This is really not about racism, but simply about their background. In general, Indonesian DHs are mostly coming from small villages, and yet Filippina DHs are usually from the cities. So, don't take me wrong.

[sandy0741]

Pls don't take me wrong as being racist when I asked this question, from what I hear about people commenting about their helpers, most of them think Filippina's are more experienced in all household work. I also think it's because they are more educated and as they come from the cities, they have more knowledge on how to use the household items and handle all the household matters. I have employed two indonesian maids so far, this is the second one, and she has really driven me nuts, she isn't good at cleaning, not ,listening to any instructions, even if you repeat several times, the only word she says is yes, but she will do a different thing for you. She will wear the same clothes for 2 days in this hot weather, you should imagine it's hot, and she has been doing the household work all day, she also needs to carry the baby sometime, but if she doesn't change clothes after she has been smelling, i think this is a big problem.