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How should maids be treated?
Posted: Tue Jun 05, 2012 11:53 pm
by Zhuge
How should maids be treated?
1. I have 3 bedrooms. Only 2 are occupied. The 3rd is a guestroom. Sometimes, overseas relative or friend pop by Singapore, we let them stay in the 3rd room (guestroom). This happened like once every few months and for a few day period. We do not know whether to let her have the 3rd bedroom or in the kitchen.
2. Do you let the maid eat whatever we eat? ie maid have free hand to eat whatever she like in the fridge?
3. Do you let the maid swim in the pool or use the gym in the condo, on her day off?
Any advice/comment are most welcome!
Re: Treatment of maids
Posted: Tue Jun 05, 2012 11:56 pm
by verykiasu2010
Zhuge wrote:How do you treat your maids?
1. I have 3 bedrooms. Only 2 are occupied. The 3rd is a guestroom. Sometimes, overseas relative or friend pop by Singapore, we let them stay in the 3rd room (guestroom). This happened like once every few months and for a few day period. We do not know whether to let her have the 3rd bedroom or in the kitchen.
2. Do you let the maid eat whatever we eat? ie maid have free hand to eat whatever she like in the fridge?
3. Do you let the maid swim in the pool or use the gym in the condo, on her day off?
Any advice/comment are most welcome!
the simple straight forward answer is : how do you expect your boss to treat you ? do the same
Re: Treatment of maids
Posted: Wed Jun 06, 2012 12:02 am
by Zhuge
verykiasu2010 wrote:Zhuge wrote:How do you treat your maids?
1. I have 3 bedrooms. Only 2 are occupied. The 3rd is a guestroom. Sometimes, overseas relative or friend pop by Singapore, we let them stay in the 3rd room (guestroom). This happened like once every few months and for a few day period. We do not know whether to let her have the 3rd bedroom or in the kitchen.
2. Do you let the maid eat whatever we eat? ie maid have free hand to eat whatever she like in the fridge?
3. Do you let the maid swim in the pool or use the gym in the condo, on her day off?
Any advice/comment are most welcome!
the simple straight forward answer is : how do you expect your boss to treat you ? do the same
any more detailed answer?
Re: Treatment of maids
Posted: Wed Jun 06, 2012 12:08 am
by POA Teacher
verykiasu2010 wrote:Zhuge wrote:How do you treat your maids?
1. I have 3 bedrooms. Only 2 are occupied. The 3rd is a guestroom. Sometimes, overseas relative or friend pop by Singapore, we let them stay in the 3rd room (guestroom). This happened like once every few months and for a few day period. We do not know whether to let her have the 3rd bedroom or in the kitchen.
2. Do you let the maid eat whatever we eat? ie maid have free hand to eat whatever she like in the fridge?
3. Do you let the maid swim in the pool or use the gym in the condo, on her day off?
Any advice/comment are most welcome!
the simple straight forward answer is : how do you expect your boss to treat you ? do the same
My boss doesn't let me have a room of my own to relax in.
My boss does not let me raid his fridge, nor swim in his pool.
Re: Treatment of maids
Posted: Wed Jun 06, 2012 12:27 am
by verykiasu2010
POA Teacher wrote:verykiasu2010 wrote:Zhuge wrote:How do you treat your maids?
1. I have 3 bedrooms. Only 2 are occupied. The 3rd is a guestroom. Sometimes, overseas relative or friend pop by Singapore, we let them stay in the 3rd room (guestroom). This happened like once every few months and for a few day period. We do not know whether to let her have the 3rd bedroom or in the kitchen.
2. Do you let the maid eat whatever we eat? ie maid have free hand to eat whatever she like in the fridge?
3. Do you let the maid swim in the pool or use the gym in the condo, on her day off?
Any advice/comment are most welcome!
the simple straight forward answer is : how do you expect your boss to treat you ? do the same
My boss doesn't let me have a room of my own to relax in.
My boss does not let me raid his fridge, nor swim in his pool.
not disagreement with above
the condo pool is common property, the boss does not own it, and everyone else's friends are using it too; if it is his bungalow's private pool, understood
Re: How should maids be treated?
Posted: Wed Jun 06, 2012 10:19 am
by Dawnie
1. I have 3 bedrooms. Only 2 are occupied. The 3rd is a guestroom. Sometimes, overseas relative or friend pop by Singapore, we let them stay in the 3rd room (guestroom). This happened like once every few months and for a few day period. We do not know whether to let her have the 3rd bedroom or in the kitchen.
- I would let her have her own room if it's not occupied
2. Do you let the maid eat whatever we eat? ie maid have free hand to eat whatever she like in the fridge?
- yes, she can eat what we eat but WITH permisson
- I don't allow her to take whatever she likes from the fridge
3. Do you let the maid swim in the pool or use the gym in the condo, on her day off?
- yes, she can use the facilities in the condo, but not to the extend of inviting her friends to use it.
Re: How should maids be treated?
Posted: Wed Jun 06, 2012 11:00 am
by Funz
Zhuge wrote:How should maids be treated?
1. I have 3 bedrooms. Only 2 are occupied. The 3rd is a guestroom. Sometimes, overseas relative or friend pop by Singapore, we let them stay in the 3rd room (guestroom). This happened like once every few months and for a few day period. We do not know whether to let her have the 3rd bedroom or in the kitchen.
2. Do you let the maid eat whatever we eat? ie maid have free hand to eat whatever she like in the fridge?
3. Do you let the maid swim in the pool or use the gym in the condo, on her day off?
Any advice/comment are most welcome!
1. I will let her sleep in the 3rd bedroom but make it known that if we have guests, she will have to vacate the room. She should have minimal belongings in that room, an alternative storage area, most probably in the service yard, will be provided for her belongings. You did not mention who is using the 2nd room. If used by kids, she can bunk in with them when guests arrive. I do not like the idea of a woman sleeping in the kitchen or living room where guests will see if they need to use the toilet of get a drink in the middle of the night.
2. I buy some stuff that I know she likes to eat. But she eats all that we eat unless there's pork in it. Stuff that she is not allowed to eat, we will let her know.
3. She is free to use the pool if she wants to. I have no issue with that. But like Dawnie, I draw the line on inviting friends over.
Re: How should maids be treated?
Posted: Wed Jun 06, 2012 11:30 am
by nms1
Zhuge wrote:How should maids be treated?
1. I have 3 bedrooms. Only 2 are occupied. The 3rd is a guestroom. Sometimes, overseas relative or friend pop by Singapore, we let them stay in the 3rd room (guestroom). This happened like once every few months and for a few day period. We do not know whether to let her have the 3rd bedroom or in the kitchen.
Definitely let her have the 3rd bedroom on the understanding that she will have to vacate it when you have visitors. She needs some personal space when she is not working. Make sure that she can have some privacy when she has to sleep somewhere else, as much as is possible.
2. Do you let the maid eat whatever we eat? ie maid have free hand to eat whatever she like in the fridge?
Our maid eats the same as us unless she is cooking something that she doesn't like in which case she usually eats leftover from the previous day - she will purposely cook extra - or what the children are eating if it's different. We don't have strict rules on what she can help herself to but I don't mind her taking a biscuit or something from the cupboard and she will also eat some of the fruit when she is giving it to the children. If I buy cakes or anything I will tell her if I have bought one for her.
3. Do you let the maid swim in the pool or use the gym in the condo, on her day off?
Most maids aren't really interested. Some condos have rules on whether they can use or not.
Any advice/comment are most welcome!
Re: How should maids be treated?
Posted: Wed Jun 06, 2012 12:19 pm
by Zhuge
Thanks for the replies.
I think (2) and (3) are not really issues.
For (1), here are more details and questions:
a. when i mentioned kitchen, i was not specified enough. there is a utility room at the end of the kitchen. not sure if the utility is good enough
b. when guests come over, how will they feel if they are to sleep in the maid's room?
c. at the moment, i put a lot of things in the 3rd room, will frequently accessing the room a form of 'intrusion' into the maid's privacy?
d. will you allow the maid to use the aircon when she sleep in the room?
Re: How should maids be treated?
Posted: Wed Jun 06, 2012 2:22 pm
by Funz
Zhuge wrote:Thanks for the replies.
I think (2) and (3) are not really issues.
For (1), here are more details and questions:
a. when i mentioned kitchen, i was not specified enough. there is a utility room at the end of the kitchen. not sure if the utility is good enough
If your utility room is big enough for the maid to still have a small area to house her belongings and accomodate a foldable single mattress, guess it is ok. Install a fan for her so that she will not die of heat during these hot months.
b. when guests come over, how will they feel if they are to sleep in the maid's room?
Why should they? Moreover if like I suggest, maids belongings are not kept in that room so that when guests do come, the maid has no need to go to the room except to clean. I am opening my house to you and giving you free lodging and most probably free meals and you want to be particular about which room? Can't possibly expect me to vacate my room for you right? There is always a choice of hotels you know.
c. at the moment, i put a lot of things in the 3rd room, will frequently accessing the room a form of 'intrusion' into the maid's privacy?
Going into the room during the day when she is not in there should not pose a problem. Just make it clear to her. But when she is in the room, it is better that the men in the household do not enter without a female member as witness. Get the women to go along or retrieve the stuff that are needed for you.
d. will you allow the maid to use the aircon when she sleep in the room?
If the weather gets unbearably hot yah. My maid has her own room but I tell her to sleep in the guest room and use the aircon when the nights get too hot. She has to be up b4 any of us early in the morning to prepare breakfast and help get the kids ready for school. A decent night's sleep is important. I allow her to turn on the aircon while ironing if the weather is too stifling. But so far, she doesn't do it. Think her tolerance for heat is higher then mine.