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Dumb nanny/maid questions

332

Posts

EW EXPLORER

Latest post on 13 August 2011 - 16:26

Hi Ladies
I have hired a live out nanny who starts with us tomorrow. She will be under our sponsorship and work exclusively for us Sunday through to Thursday. This will be my first experience with domestic help and I have a few dumb questions please:
- do I have to give her a lunch break? I am expecting her to work about 10 hours a day
- do I have to provide her with food or beverages? Her salary is at the high end and is all inclusive
- can I hold onto her passport whilst she is working for me?
- when should I pay her? At the end of the month, weekly?

Many TIA!

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353

Posts

EW EXPLORER

Latest post on 15 August 2011 - 17:06

I have pondered this thread all day, and I really am someone that loathes confrontation, but seriously my dogs eat twice in 10 hours how can you ask such a question? Why wouldn't you want to provide food? I do for my maid and I don't expect her to thank me for that! What has it to do with protocol? Isn't it just basic humanity that you would want to make sure someone who is employed by you is happy/comfortable and basically not starving and overworked? edited by Stardust on 15/08/2011 I used to have a very intense job. It was expected that most days we would work at least 10 hours. And guess what? The employer didn't provide food. Why is it ok for a major company to not provide food and not ok for M to do the same? A job is a job is a job. Because I am sure your salary was a lot more than what said maid is earning.... .....and I bet you sat at a desk most of the day and and packed lunch! Honestly, what the **** is wrong with people!!?? Maids are humans!!! Why are you so interested in 'how much you can get away with paying' when some pay them a months salary for the cost of a Friday night meal? Some expect them to work 10-12 hours a day when they live on a tax free salary. They leave them with their kids when they have no experience and moan that the house isn't immaculate. They ask if its ok that they wash the car or sweep the balconies in the blazing heat! No it's bl@@dy not! Change will not happen until we start to change things outselves. I don't know how half of you can live with yourselves. You'd be embarrassed ofnyour behaviour in your home country. Treat someone how youd like be to treated or I hope that karma really bites you on the butt.

349

Posts

EW EXPLORER

Latest post on 15 August 2011 - 16:57

I have pondered this thread all day, and I really am someone that loathes confrontation, but seriously my dogs eat twice in 10 hours how can you ask such a question? Why wouldn't you want to provide food? I do for my maid and I don't expect her to thank me for that! What has it to do with protocol? Isn't it just basic humanity that you would want to make sure someone who is employed by you is happy/comfortable and basically not starving and overworked? edited by Stardust on 15/08/2011 I used to have a very intense job. It was expected that most days we would work at least 10 hours. And guess what? The employer didn't provide food. Why is it ok for a major company to not provide food and not ok for M to do the same? A job is a job is a job. Because I am sure your salary was a lot more than what said maid is earning....

1238

Posts

EW OLDHAND

Latest post on 15 August 2011 - 16:37

I have pondered this thread all day, and I really am someone that loathes confrontation, but seriously my dogs eat twice in 10 hours how can you ask such a question? Why wouldn't you want to provide food? I do for my maid and I don't expect her to thank me for that! What has it to do with protocol? Isn't it just basic humanity that you would want to make sure someone who is employed by you is happy/comfortable and basically not starving and overworked? edited by Stardust on 15/08/2011 I used to have a very intense job. It was expected that most days we would work at least 10 hours. And guess what? The employer didn't provide food. Why is it ok for a major company to not provide food and not ok for M to do the same? A job is a job is a job.

349

Posts

EW EXPLORER

Latest post on 15 August 2011 - 16:27

I have pondered this thread all day, and I really am someone that loathes confrontation, but seriously my dogs eat twice in 10 hours how can you ask such a question? Why wouldn't you want to provide food? I do for my maid and I don't expect her to thank me for that! What has it to do with protocol? Isn't it just basic humanity that you would want to make sure someone who is employed by you is happy/comfortable and basically not starving and overworked? Please keep in mind that most of those that we employ as maids live below the poverty line.... providing a sandwich and beverage is a very small thing to do. <em>edited by Stardust on 15/08/2011</em>

332

Posts

EW EXPLORER

Latest post on 14 August 2011 - 20:15

Thanks Ladies, all worked out well : )

AdviceSeeker13702

1100

Posts

EW OLDHAND

Latest post on 14 August 2011 - 10:42

Hi Ladies I have hired a live out nanny who starts with us tomorrow. She will be under our sponsorship and work exclusively for us Sunday through to Thursday. This will be my first experience with domestic help and I have a few dumb questions please: - do I have to give her a lunch break? I am expecting her to work about 10 hours a day [i'>She will need a break. But I also don't give a specific time. Just let her know she has to find the time herself to have lunch etc... But if you're more comfortable with putting a time in place then say from this time to this time you can have a break.[/i'> - do I have to provide her with food or beverages? Her salary is at the high end and is all inclusive [i'>If you think the salary is inclusive then don't provide food, but since she is live out, I would let her have drinks because its not like she has her drinks supply in her room. Let her know she needs to bring whatever food she wants for the day herself. I have a policy in my home that water is free for all, but other drinks are not unless I've been asked (this came into play after many years of being generous and finding that coke, juice etc would disappear, and when I would go to grab a drink, calculating on there being 4 left for e.g., there'd be none left and that used to drive me batty... again its a personal choice so you have to decide what works for you... [/i'> - can I hold onto her passport whilst she is working for me? [i'>people do do this, but I am a strong believer that everyone has the right to their passport and it shouldn't be taken off them, not to mention it is illegal... but I suppose its up to you[/i'> - when should I pay her? At the end of the month, weekly? [i'> Again, up to you, but most pay monthly[/i'> Many TIA! <em>edited by AdviceSeeker on 14/08/2011</em>

1759

Posts

EW EXPERT

Latest post on 14 August 2011 - 03:29

It is illegal to hold someone's passport -- it belongs to the government that issued it, and hence to the person it is issued on behalf of.

206

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 13 August 2011 - 22:09

As to lunch hour & break, my personal preference is to have set times (two breaks & 1 lunch) just to be on the same page, in case issues with discipline arise... Especially due to my opinion about calling on duty, she can use phone only in breaks and otherwise the moment telephone rings, becomes her "break"

332

Posts

EW EXPLORER

Latest post on 13 August 2011 - 20:53

Thanks guinness and faircakeyumm for your helpful tips. KKS - I would never dream of making someone work 10 hours straight, particularly as she would be helping me look after my baby, it was simply a question of protocol coming from someone who has no experience with hired help.

1238

Posts

EW OLDHAND

Latest post on 13 August 2011 - 19:50

My housekeepers have always chosen when to have a break - they have lunch or coffee when the work allows - and I never fret about how much time they take for break as long as the work gets done. Mine are looking after kids so they automatically make their tea or lunch for when the babies are napping. But I also give them a list of things (shorter these days now that there are so many babies) that I want done during the day - and I'm happy as long as those things get done. I don't like saying take 12-1, because I don't like having to plan my day around their schedule. You don't need to provide food. Make it clear what she's entitled to eat or drink. Mine are happy as long as there is rice! Since she is living out, I would at the very least make sure I had a copy of her passport, and the address where she is living. Get all the details you can while things are good just in case they go bad.

369

Posts

EW EXPLORER

Latest post on 13 August 2011 - 19:42

Could you work ten hours a day without a break? Maids are not some form of subhuman, of course you MUST give her a lunch break.

fairycakeyumm21878

2239

Posts

EW EXPERT

Latest post on 13 August 2011 - 17:58

Most pay monthly....so maybe when u get paid pay her that's what we use to do. You are not meant to hold her passport but many people do that's up to u ? She will prob bring her own food what she likes to eat just ask her ....when u get to know her you'll find out wat she likes so u could get some stuff in for her to help her along. Most of the maids that have worked for me just drink water or orange etc and I tell them to help themselves to drinks. Is she looking after children all day...then she would have to base her lunch time around them or when they are sleeping etc If not tell her to have a break around midday up to u how long but she needs to eat drink and have a little rest . Good luck

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