Does your helper stay out late?

[Bumps]

I hear the voice of reason - thank you Carang!!

 

[sorchului]

To clarify: day-offs after 3 months: I think that means the labour holidays. According to the law, if the helper has worked with the same employer for 3 consecutive months, she is entitled for the labour holidays.

 

[carang]

like i said, i REALLY hope that somethign was lost in translation.

even so, when my helper started (5 days before i gave birth via emergency c-section) i still gave her the CNY holidays paid...my son was born on the 4 day of CNY...

it's really such a small amount of money, something like $135/day that i would feel like a rotten scrooge not to pay her... seems very petty to me.

 

[Bumps]

To clarify: the discourse in the initial 4 posts was appalling and warranted "strong stuff!"

 

[Portia]

Sorchului
I'm not sure if this is what you meant, but your helper is entitled to statutory holidays within the first 3 months. She is however not entitled to be paid for the statutory holiday until after she has worked for 3 months. This is in sections 39 and 40 of the Employment Ordinance. So she was entitled to the statutory holidays off even within the first 3 months.

 

[wanfamily]

Thank you for your comments. My main reason for posting was because I am new to this helper thing and wanted to see what your experiences were. Maybe there there was something lost in translation - I am more concerned about my own naivity of the situation as I have never had a helper before. When my helper came she told me that her last employer imposed rules etc to 'protect her'. I decided it was not my style to impose rules as she is entitled to do what she likes in her private time. My concerns are as follows:
1) Should I be more 'responsible' for her (ie am I not fulfilling my role as being a caring employer?
2) I am nervous about the change of going back to work, especially as my hubby will be away for 4 months during that time.
I have talked in depth about the changes in routine that will need to happen ( Bumps - It hurt to be accused of taking advantage of anyone - I would NEVER expect my helper to work longer hours than me - at the moment, I get up at 5:30 to take care of the kids, while she starts at 8 - then we work together until the day's work is done . She is absolutely adamant that she wants to stay, evern though I have told her it will be more difficult as she said 'I want to stay with you because it's hard to find a kind employer'.

I liked the advice about getting her into the new routine gradually to avoid resentment and the advice from Cara about talking to her as an adult.Thank you for that.

 

[Bumps]

Wanfamily, I did not accuse, I asked. There was a question mark there. Again, my retorts lie in the fact that I did not gel with the language and content used. Perception is reality.

 

[wanfamily]

Ha ha - easy to miss stuff when you are skim reading enroute to the nappy drawer. 'Nuff said - signing off now lest hackles be raised.

 

[Bumps]

Mmm whatever.

 

[joyofliving]

I know a chinese family who haven't given a single day off to their helper in the last 10 months since they have hired her. Not even sundays !!! I am sure the helper knows what the rules are since she has worked in HK for many years for a previous employer. So it seems she is happy to work like a slave. I asked her employer why she doesn't get a day off and the reply was that the agency would have told them if there was any such rule as a statutory day off. I am sure the employer knows there is such a rule (Everyone does) but prefer her not going out and instead work for them on Sundays while they sit and watch TV.
Wanfamily you are not being unfair AT ALL!!!