Need advice on terminating helper

[carang]

actually, it is quite common to terminate and have them move out on the same day. there are many instances where helpers have gotten vengeful after being terminated

however, it seems like this helper is otherwise ok and the only reason for termination is that they are relocating.

 

[woodstock07]

They go to a boarding house after being terminated. While I agree that it's pretty cruel but if they are taking care of young children, I wouldn't take any chances for them to become vengeful or neglectful.

 

[gladyswly]

I agree, because most of the time, they did it to themselves. I wouldn't risk my baby's safety, too many cases of helpers' revenges on newspaper. Normal practice is terminate the helper and give her the plane ticket to leave HK on the same day.

 

[joyofliving]

Where is she going to go if you fire her and ask her to leave the same day? That sounds pretty surprising and actually cruel. She`s human, no?

Humans are selfish and vengeful too. I've had a helper for a few months now and also have seen many caring for young children around me. Their love/ attachment (If any) for your child is 'mostly' superficial which doesn't last a day after they leave.

 

[Shenzhennifer]

Yeah, sure, work is work.
But regardless of it being common practice here (which is actually not so surprising to me the way I see how many people treat their helpers in public), to get fired and removed from your job on the same day, when the OP said it only had to do with being relocated, is cruel and unusual practice.

 

[rani]

As you're re-locating its highly unlikely that your helper will harm your children. I would also give her 1-month notice and let her know you'll support her in finding a new employer. Give her a good reference and offer to speak to any potential employers.

Geomum, have to disagree with you on the attachment. Our ex-helper is very attached to our son, and she emails and chats with him often. She helped me raise him for 5 years, and we both feel she's part of our family.

 

[joyofliving]

Rani thats why I said 'mostly', I know some helper are very attached to the kids they help raise

 

[Neha]

we are leaving in June , Our helper who is not the best and has been with us for just over year already knows about it and is looking for jobs and she knows that we will release her on 15th June only when we leave. She is still the same with our son ( touch wood) . Our old helper who was with us for nearly 14 years is great she still visits our son. she bought so many gifts for him on his birthday

 

[LeahH]

Humans are selfish and vengeful too. I've had a helper for a few months now and also have seen many caring for young children around me. Their love/ attachment (If any) for your child is 'mostly' superficial which doesn't last a day after they leave.

'mostly' is a sweeping generalisation.

My helpers genuinely care for my kids and it is it quite evident that my friends helpers and many of those I see around me do also. Maybe we are just very lucky as a group.....

 

[sherwes]

I think that we really need to make a distinction between a situation where a helper is terminated for bad behaviour and a situation where a helper is effectively made redundant because the family is leaving HK.

In the first instance, it's common to ask them to leave the same day and I can totally understand why.

In the second instance, I think it would be pretty harsh not to give as much notice as possible. Imagine how she would feel! Also, if she is atttached to your children she might need some time to get her head around you leaving. My advice would be to keep her informed, tell her she is free to go to interviews on Sundays and offer to speak to potential employers for her. If there is ever a situation where she will be vengeful it will be when/if she works out that you are leaving and haven't told her!