⌛ Helpers

So it goes on!

As I said, this thread will go for a long time I feel, There will always be different stories, Fores and Against, a lot of the posts here display so many differing syndromes. I certainly agree with Hilltopper that his theory (maybe reality in his case) can and does happen if allowed, Manzanita and his wife are in the same ball Park as Azon and I, BW got a bad time of it and I can sympathise with this, I would say the same thing if I could not get the help I wanted and needed. Pat treats his as an Employee and I feel this is the right way to be, his interviewing I guess, would follow his requirements, age and demur (of Course his is direct family now so different) ilove seems to be in line with Pat and he seems satisfied. If we look at all the last few posts we begin to see that there are so many changing views on the issue.

Joe! if you read all that has been written, has it given you any insight to answering your original Question?

Many years ago, my middle daughter went to Austria as an Au-Pair, it was a proper job, laid out hours and responsibilities, holiday pay all the trimmings, even a paid ticket to the UK once per year, Now I dont think we have to go this far but if we look at what ilove said, Distance from home can make all the difference, My daughter soon realised that if she did not pull her weight it was Goodnight Vienna, a long way from home, no money, on the streets. It made her think twice about the things that Hilltopper quoted.

So fellow members, I think that it is what we, the employer wants from the helper(s) that should dictate the terms they are in our House. If we are Firm but friendly (not too friendly) have Clear lines of communication, Confirmed Responcibilities, Rules that must be followed. Structured salaries, Holiday Entitlements, days off (rearrangeable if needed) and as Manzaneta has said, explanation of wrongdoings, we will be getting there, Maybe I am looking through rose coloured glasses here but if you read all the posts, Add it all up and decide what was good and bad before, I feel this is the solution to obtaining a good helper.

Most definatly, I would stay away from family help as a perminant thing.

Sorry Pat, Absolutly no Disrespect to your decision.

Well this is my $2 worth, I hope it has not been boring and I hope Joe, you can get to be where you want to be with an answer.

(Dont forget we have a SMB date at some stage)


Jack P.:o:o

 

I've had a lot of helpers myself and I could only count one or two good ones. The young ones especially do not know the word "work." You have to tell them what to do everyday and they like to spend their time calling their boyfriends through their cellphones (Sun to Sun unlimited) and they could chat the whole day without you knowing it. It was the kid in the family who told us that the helper, instead of doing laundry, was talking to her boyfriend over the phone. I would prefer older ones with experience in household work though.

 

oh jesus christ, till now this thread is not over yet,
well guys, keep looking, but honestly we can not find perfect helpers, because i do believe that as an employer we are not perfect as well.
between helpers and employers, its only a words different.

HELPERS = EMPLOYERS

 

Should a "helper" be any different than an employee working for Robinson's or Noreco or Casablanca? I don't think so. An employer is paying an employee for job responsibilities and I believe it is fair to expect at least good performance. The employer has the responsibility to treat the employee with fairness and politeness and allow the helper to keep his or her dignity at all times. To helpers I say, do your job, there are many who wish they had your job.

 

Have no need for helpers or yayas....didn't them in the states....don't need them here. Save $$ and frustration.

 

I have finally come to the conclusion that our problem with helpers stems from the bad decisions of the one that hires and manages them, which is not me. I do not see any end in sight and have accepted the fact that this is the way it will be for the foreseeable future. We do have a stay-out helper that we hired by accident that is good. She is a neighbor that wanted to make some extra money.

Hopefully once both kids are in school full time we will not need the stay-in type anymore and we can just rely on someone to come in to do the chores such as laundry and general cleaning daily and go home at night.

 

Joe, May I ask how much you would pay a person to come in and do daily chores like laundry and daily cleaning then go home!!!

Alan

 

we pay her 1000php per week, lunch included with Sundays off ...

166php per day

 

Layout the rules before you hire them.

I'd confiscate their cell phones during working hours..


I've been told you see help wanted signs for work in Manila posted in Dgte as an effort by employers in MNL to get a worker who going to be at a distance from her relatives just to cut down on the nonsense.

I also was told by a member here that his secretarial workers cried easily, wanted time off to see relatives when they were in town, and some even asked for a pay advance soon after being hired to attend the funeral of some relative.

 

I'd say it depends on how long that person is going to be there each day, how thorough/hard the cleaning is etc. Hand laundry or with a machine?