Easter Holiday OFF?

[starbucks2]

We give ours all the public holidays off regardless of stat or otherwise. If I am at home alone with my two small kids, she does pop in and out and help with bits and bobs which is nice.

 

[happyflipper]

I would decided what help I want during those days and let her know.

You should decide what works for you as you are on your own with 2 kids during the holidays. If you need your helper to work full day or part day, you are entitled to ask her to do so (remember you need to enjoy the holidays too!) As long as you figure out what works for you and then talk to her. No need to be concerned about what other thinks or do.

 

[nicolejoy]

It's more than fair - you're giving her extra time off, anything that you give her is a bonus I would think about it from the perspective of how much help do you NEED during that time - and ask her to help with that, but then even if she had 10am-6pm (for example) off, then even THAT much is a bonus for her... For me, I know that the hours from 5pm-8/9pm are the worst in my house and I would appreciate the extra help then even more so than in the morning...

 

[lesliefu]

So, I have two very small children and my husband is going to be out of town on this easter holiday weekend --- it is so hard to care for the kids by myself and i love her help.
That being said, she works very hard and deserves days off --- I was thinking to offer her to work until like 9 or 10 in the morning and then have the rest of the day off. This way, the hardest part of the day is finished and she can still have a nice day off.
Does this sound fair to you??? THANKS!

i would do what works best for your situation, after all she's here to HELP you. Each family has there own priorities so what's fair for you might not be fair for another...that being said, i honestly don't think any one of us here is out to take advantage of our helpers.

our family always has the helper around during the weekend (she has Sunday off) cause we have to kids (2.8yrs and 10mths) and I'm pregnant with #3, so if we want to go anywhere, we really do need her help...that's that for our family. if she has any thing she needs to get done on her work days, then of course she can go get it done - that's not a problem.

 

[lesliefu]

Leslie, new hires DO get statutory holidays off during the first 3 months. You are just not obliged to pay for those holidays. But really, who is going to withhold a few hundred dollars from someone who needs it so much???

oops...my dad's "experienced" helper that has been in HK for 14yrs gave me this info so I had my new hire work on Ching Ming...I've never thought about witholding money though...like you say who would do such a thing?!?

 

[banane76]

Thanks Nicole for the link! Very helpful!

 

[thanka2]

There is a downloadable guide called The Practical Guide for Employment of Foreign Domestic Helpers and this is a quote from chapter 4 regarding statutory holidays. You will see that all statutory holidays listed must be given to domestic helpers regardless of their length of service (so there is no 3 month waiting period) and if the helper has worked over 3 months she will receive those holidays as paid leave. Easter is not on the list but as it is considered a sacred holiday to my helper (and to my family as well) I feel that giving extra time off is appropriate. I always find that giving more time off, rather than less, is the best way to go. I believe generosity is its own reward and goes a long way in creating a great working relationship. I think that employers who are stingy (not saying anyone here is but I do know a lot of local employers who are) with their helpers are just setting themselves up for trouble.

STATUTORY HOLIDAYS

For both employer and helper

Q4.5 How long should a helper work before he/she can enjoy the statutory
holidays in a year?

A  All foreign domestic helpers, irrespective of their length of services, are
entitled to the following 12 statutory holidays in a year ?
 The first day of January;
 Lunar New Year?s Day;
 The second day of Lunar New Year;
 The third day of Lunar New Year;
 Ching Ming Festival;
 The first day of May;
 Tuen Ng Festival;
 The day following the Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival;
 Chung Yeung Festival;
 Chinese Winter Solstice Festival or Christmas Day (at the option of
the employer);
 The first day of July; and
 The first day of October.
 If the helper has been employed continuously by the employer for three
months preceding any of these holidays, he/she is entitled to the holiday
pay.