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EWmums

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Maid - sick or "sick"?

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5452

Posts

EW MASTER

Latest post on 02 June 2014 - 11:30

If it's just a minor illness like a cold, then she should be prepared to work her normal schedule... She should also continue to work her normal schedule with minor aches and pains. If she is in extreme pain, obviously she needs to go see a doctor. If she has chronic health conditions, sorry but she should not be working as a maid. Fortunately, I have never had to deal with any major health issues with any of my maids. The only situation that I have had in the past few years is that there have been dental emergencies where the maids were up all night in pain. In those cases, I let them sleep during the day...

4062

Posts

EW MASTER

Latest post on 02 June 2014 - 08:23

Probably, it's time to recruit a healthy housemaid. There were few ''health complainers'' in my past and I know for sure, that once it starts- it NEVER ends. If it's not a health discomfort- it will be smth else: amount of work, working hours, number of PH and DOff etc. Unfortunately, it's not only her discontent- it's a constant stress for you too. Try to help her once, but, if it continues, don't waste your time. Good luck. I understand what you are saying but maybe she is just behaving like this because the OP has indulged her? When I was at school, I worked weekend in a large department store. One of the managers was an older man who got all flustered and let you rest if you told him it was your time of the month and you didn't feel very well. Did people respect him as a boss? No, they laughed behind his back and skived off watching TV in the staff room any chance they got. When the other manager was working, no one tried it on. Some people have a good work ethic and will work well because they take pride in a job well done. But there are plenty of other people who will get away with as little as possible given half a chance. In this case it sounds like the OP's maid is being lazy because the OP is allowing her to be. Kansou, your maid knows the score. If she was in her home country working as a teacher or nurse or shop assistant or in a factory, she wouldn't be allowed to rest 2-3 times a week because she was feeling a bit poorly. She is doing it with you because she can, it's up to you to let her know she can't.

DEL-longinjumei...

25

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 02 June 2014 - 08:06

Probably, it's time to recruit a healthy housemaid. There were few ''health complainers'' in my past and I know for sure, that once it starts- it NEVER ends. If it's not a health discomfort- it will be smth else: amount of work, working hours, number of PH and DOff etc. Unfortunately, it's not only her discontent- it's a constant stress for you too. Try to help her once, but, if it continues, don't waste your time. Good luck.

4062

Posts

EW MASTER

Latest post on 01 June 2014 - 21:34

Regardless of whether she is faking it or not, it sounds like minor health quibbles and she shouldn't be bothering her employer with them. I'm not unsympathetic to being actually sick but that doesn't seem to be the case here and it is inappropriate that she is letting it effect her work to such a degree or even making her employer aware of it to be honest. She should just be getting on with things like most people have to. <em>edited by Daza on 01/06/2014</em>

1170

Posts

EW OLDHAND

Latest post on 01 June 2014 - 19:28

I will be the devil advocate here and tell OP to just ignore these little complains, you know very well if you are a working woman or stay at home that when you have these minor stuff nothing nobody will step in and do your work or chores. we all have from time to time these stuff happen but we just do what we have to do, if every time I stopped my work or chores because I have a light headache or stiff neck, nothing would be done and I would got fired when I was working.

8965

Posts

EW MASTER

Latest post on 01 June 2014 - 14:37

If it is just something minor I would expect her to suck it up and get on with her job like everyone else has to when they aren't feeling great. If she feels it is worse she could choose to take the day off work but I'd be clear she only had a set number of paid sick days per year and after that they are unpaid. I wouldn't agree to extra rests or daytime naps, it would be either you work the day or you don't. Of course if she suddenly felt unwell halfway through the day she could take the rest of the day off but it would count as half a sick day. I don't see why you should treat it any differently to sick days in any other job. Within the 1st 6 months, no pay as we don't :-)

4062

Posts

EW MASTER

Latest post on 01 June 2014 - 14:21

If it is just something minor I would expect her to suck it up and get on with her job like everyone else has to when they aren't feeling great. If she feels it is worse she could choose to take the day off work but I'd be clear she only had a set number of paid sick days per year and after that they are unpaid. I wouldn't agree to extra rests or daytime naps, it would be either you work the day or you don't. Of course if she suddenly felt unwell halfway through the day she could take the rest of the day off but it would count as half a sick day. I don't see why you should treat it any differently to sick days in any other job.

25

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 01 June 2014 - 13:25

I am looking at getting our first maid shortly and I have to say this is something I hear of alot. If it is happening that regulary tell her you want to take her to the doctors as it is not normal for someone to be that ill and you are worried about her. if she says no it's ok i'll be fine you'll know she is trying to pull a fast one, if she goes maybe she really is really ill and maybe it is something the doc can help with, could be as simple as a vitamin or mineral defficeny. If she is trying to pull a fast one you'll need to decide on a way to make it clear that you won't put up with it as Izzy said get her to make the time up or if you ever give a bonus tell her she won't be getting it due to sickness. We all get ill sometimes but not 2-3 times a week, thats just crazy! I am just afraid she Will do go to doctors no problem - she is taking panadol and whatever i give her (like voltaren for her neck) - she know it won't hurt her it will just support her story about being unwell. And what doctor would do...? Executive check up? .....ohh those maids :( I wish we were not so dependent on them:(

107

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 01 June 2014 - 13:19

I am looking at getting our first maid shortly and I have to say this is something I hear of alot. If it is happening that regulary tell her you want to take her to the doctors as it is not normal for someone to be that ill and you are worried about her. if she says no it's ok i'll be fine you'll know she is trying to pull a fast one, if she goes maybe she really is really ill and maybe it is something the doc can help with, could be as simple as a vitamin or mineral defficeny. If she is trying to pull a fast one you'll need to decide on a way to make it clear that you won't put up with it as Izzy said get her to make the time up or if you ever give a bonus tell her she won't be getting it due to sickness. We all get ill sometimes but not 2-3 times a week, thats just crazy!

IzzyOnTheSeat82823

5334

Posts

EW MASTER

Latest post on 01 June 2014 - 13:10

i get 15 days sick a year - ater that its unpaid.... perhaps explain to her that she can rest today but she can work on Friday to make it up

25

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 01 June 2014 - 13:07

Hello Ladies, I know there are many ladies here who have longer experience with maids so I thought to share with you and to hear some comments. It's our second maid (first one was live out) and she would often complain on some minor health issues: headache, tummy, nausea, neck, etc etc. I understand, we are all human beings and it happens, but 2-3 times a week? Yesterday for example, she suddenly got stiff neck when I told her that we are going to the mall so I left her home alone. I started feeling she is doing that to avoid going out or working in the house because I will obviously ask her to rest more often during the day or to take a nap (I wish my boss did this to me too when I wasn't feeling well in the office:)). What would you do? Would you just give her panadol and let her work as usual? Or stop yourself from thinking that she might be lying? Thanks, me:)

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