Helper using octupus card for personal use

Posted by sharry (322 days ago)

I have given my helper an octupus card, as she needs to drop and pick my son from school and play groups, i just did a check at the mtr station and realized from the report that she has been using it for her personal use on her days off, for transportation and food!
Now i feel cheated as i had specifically told her that it was only for bus fare for taking my boy from various activities, how do i deal with this???

Find what you are after in our Hong Kong A-Z Directory

Posted by jwm (322 days ago)

Well if you are going to be that picky about a few dollars here and there, just ask her to leave it with you on her days off.

Posted by GreenValleys (322 days ago)

You've got limited options only:
(a) As jwm says - relieve her of the card on her day off.
(b) Know how much is required for the fares involved in taking your son to/from school, give her that amount each week/month to be credited to the card, and tell her that she's responsible for anything over that amount.
(c) Accept the situation, even giving her a (small) allowance for personal use.
(d) Drastic as it might sound, terminate her.
Whichever way you need to tell her up front that you are not happy that she has broken the rules you set at the beginning, and the consequences of a repeat episode. You are the boss and you must be very clear that she understands that she cannot trample all over you. Good luck.

Posted by antoniahk (321 days ago)

(b) seems like the perfect solution - maybe put a tiny bit more just in case she needs to take a different bus occasionally. A nice face-saving solution for everyone. Remember that you are expected to pay for her food on her day off - this is what the contract states.

Posted by dohmum (321 days ago)

I have had the exact situation as Sherry but when I asked my helper to stop using that for her personal use or using it on her rest day, she said she is entitled to .... she even told me that it is kind of like "law" or "contract" or "norm".....I feel it was kind of unressonable....but still thinking a way out which will be comfortable to both of us

Posted by GreenValleys (321 days ago)

The only 'law' or 'contract' bit that I'm aware of is that the standard contract requires the employer either to provide food or to pay a stated monthly food allowance. As it doesn't say "excluding the rest days" it is implied that the employer's responsibility to provide food should cover the rest day also. However, if the helper is provided food instead of an allowance then that should extend to the rest day, and using the octopus card for buying food on her rest day equates to a partial allowance. Seems it's something that just needs to be agreed on between the two parties before the molehill becomes a mountain.

Posted by Honessy (320 days ago)

Hi. do you think that your kids are asking to buy some stuff which your helper used an octopus as payment? Did you asked her about this?

Posted by Momoftwo (320 days ago)

Good point Honessy!

Posted by jwm (319 days ago)

Probally doubtful it was for the kids, since the original posting says it was on her day off. Why would the kids be with her on her day off?