KiasuParents - Parenting in Singapore

Hi there

Anyone can share, how do u tackle maids that don't follow instructions despite reminders.

I gave my maid a notebook for her to write down things so she can refer when she needs to. E.g. when she first come, we realised she is not good at Maths so she found it hard to estimate the amt of rice to cook for different people. So have to write down for her specifically 2 people eating cook 1 cup of rice. 3 people eating 1.5 cups. 7 people 3.5 cups. She didn't understand 0.5 cup for 1 person. Now she gets it and even corrects me if I tell her wrongly...haha.

We also realise she doesn't understand Eng well so have to speak slowly. And I ask her to repeat to me the instructions so as to make sure she gets all of them right. This I do even now e.g. if I tell her 4 dishes to cook for dinner she always forgets the fourth especially if I tell her when she is busy doing something.

When it comes to cooking I write down the steps for her or print the recipes which she keeps and refer when necessary.

What kind of instructions do you have to keep reminding your maid about? My maid doesn't forgets instructions intentionally so no attitude issues but there are instances she may forget to do something repeatedly. I will then get DH to speak to her and if it is serious enough, we both will speak to her formally at the dining table (like a pep talk).

at the end of the day, it's their attitude. If they dont want to work, even with notebook is useless cos they'll try to test you and make you angry.

Also, a helper is suppose to be there to help you, not a burden. If she's a burden, then it's time to get a replacement.

Some maids are dumb. Tell them many times, they still don't get it.
Write down instructions step by step, onto a piece of paper.
Ask them read aloud, follow
Don't understand : ask until they understand

I type out the general Do's and Don't in English and their native language and give them a copy when they first start work. Told them to read through it daily before they sleep.

For day to day instructions, they write down in their notebook in their native language.

Recipes can be typed out in English and their native language as well.

I don't have much variations in their daily routines and I try to keep things standard and routine for their easy understanding.

milkbun wrote:at the end of the day, it's their attitude. If they dont want to work, even with notebook is useless cos they'll try to test you and make you angry.

Also, a helper is suppose to be there to help you, not a burden. If she's a burden, then it's time to get a replacement.

Agree with what milkbun said.

Last filipina maid was so dumb that she didn't know Fridge from FREEZER so I put big A4 note with sign saying FRIDGE, FREEZER,
I wrote on white board but she would only mange to read what she want to see and later if asked p
Say " I didn't see" ... Well she no longer works for me after many month of bad attitude but really it's Maid's Attitude in the end of the day.

Hi

Is there any ways or methods that employers can try so that the
Maid can listen to instruction?

Is it becos your maid don't understand or simply refused to obey yr instructions?

My pinoy maid also, never follow instruction, recently i have a short surgery and not able to eat rice so had told her to cook porridge separately for me, on the 2nd day, i went to look for my porridge during dinner time but can't find and asked her, her reply was," Today i cook rice and soup, so you can put the soup on your rice....!" My blood was boiling....this is just one example, too many and so on. Am sending her back after she repay me the money i personal loan to her. Can't believe i can tahan her for 8 months and keep giving her chances. They just simply don't know how to appreciate.