Thanks everyone for your replies. I will give her a card with cash and let her decide. Kids will make one regardless. Family tradition here is balloons at end of bed for kids birthdays. Our Filipino help/carer/sitter in Ireland was very generous in giving presents to my kids and extended family. She even posted stuff to all of us in Dubai for our first Xmas here a few months ago. Her predecessor was the same too. In saying that they get well paid in Ireland compared to here and appreciate the work and recommendations you give them to other people.
Nothing ! My maids DOB is the 1st January and I said Happy birthday to her and she said she doesnt know when she was born ! her paper work was done for her passport and this is date that was entered on there ! I asked her if she would like to celebrate it on the 1st january and she said no as she doesnt celebrate birthdays in her culture
I always give my maid a small gift (usually toiletries - body lotion, shower gel, nail polish, etc) and a card with money. Money is appreciated more than anything. How much is up to you and how long your maid has been with you. Personally, I think it's nice to celebrate their birthday with them - they're separated from family, and just to know someone cares and remembered their birthday means a lot. If my maid is planning on meeting with friends, I'll make sure there's a cake and refreshments too.
People deal with birthdays in so many different ways. I know families who don't make a big deal about a birthday but we always make it a special day for the birthday person.
We always bought our housemaid a card, a phone card, a cake and small gift (hair ties, hair clips, shower gel, body lotion, nail varnish etc etc She told me that she had never had a birthday present before- she was 31! One year her birthday fell on a Friday her day off. I knew she had arranged to meet her sisters and cousins in Safa park for a picnic so we went there with a big bucket of KFC and some big bottles of coke - found them in the park all chilling out and having fun. She could not believe that we had arrived armed with treats and her friends all loved it too.
We should all know when our housemaid's birthday is as we all have their passports when doing the sponsorship paperwork. I would put the date in my diary and the very least would be a card and a phone card so they can phone home on their special day. I would hate to miss someone's birthday especially someone who is living with our family.
we always do something when its someones birthday in the office, normally a cake and lunch.
I think its different here, i always feel sorry for my nanny as she has no family here to celebrate with, the first year she didn't even tell me it was her birthday.
I always give my nanny a card with some money or vouchers and let her take the afternoon off.
Like :-)
We give her a card with cash in it, my children make her cards and we bake her a cake and sing happy birthday.
If she's only been with you a few weeks I probably wouldn't do cash, just a card and cake.
It's a day like any day in the year, just wish her a happy birthday if she told you today is my birthday....that's it.
I'm 50+ and for me birthdays for everyone of ALL ages is still a special day! However, she might be of the 'ohhh, birthdays, I don't bother celebrating them'
If she is of the 'Yehhh it's my birthday' I would agree with mum2girls and a small token Happy Birthday gift is a thoughtful gesture.
What does your husbands boss do for his birthday?
Nothing more to say after that....
So you are in return expecting your maid to do what in your birthday? you are expecting her to get you a gift? or what?
Or do you or your husband get birthday gifts from his boss? does you or him get a birthday card from your employer?
It's a day like any day in the year, just wish her a happy birthday if she told you today is my birthday....that's it.
I give her a small gift from the kids, box of chocolates or a shower gel, something along that line, just a token gift. I give her a card with some cash and we organise a birthday cake for her.
we always do something when its someones birthday in the office, normally a cake and lunch.
I think its different here, i always feel sorry for my nanny as she has no family here to celebrate with, the first year she didn't even tell me it was her birthday.
I always give my nanny a card with some money or vouchers and let her take the afternoon off.
I think a day off for an adult just because it's her birthday is very unecessary. It's only going to give her unreasonable expectations of you as an employer.
You are probably right! I never take day off either.
I think a day off for an adult just because it's her birthday is very unecessary. It's only going to give her unreasonable expectations of you as an employer.
Just wondered if anyone does anything nice for their maid on her birthday. My maid is only with us a few weeks. She does a great job and has young kids back home. I was thinking of giving her day off but not sure if she will take it as her friends will be working. Maybe give her money in a card. Any suggestions please? TIA