Where have all the good ones gone?

We terminated our last helper in May and have yet to find another.


Since then we have had 2 contracts in process and had an agreement for a contract with a third. Each one has left with a made up excuse and we think they have all left for different reasons such as found the job too demanding (she was 60), got a better offer or just wasn't interested.


We have 2 young children, a large house and we both work so this has put tremendous pressure on us in terms of work but mostly it is impacting the children who have had a rotation of different helpers to deal with.


We think we are very fair and provide a nice friendly environment for the helpers but are quickly becoming cynical as we can't seem to find any loyal, honest, caring helpers, despite our best efforts to hire them from good sources and check their references.


Where are we going wrong or are we just having a long bad patch?!

You may be just having a bad patch. I would recommend.


- Get a hiring expert to help you find the right one. A friend who is a manager with hiring experience is a good resource.

- You say you are fair and friendly. However it is easy to be blind to one's own foibles. Get a real friend to give you an honest opinion. There may be something there that you simply aren't seeing.

I agree! I have a lot of experience hiring staff (and have become even more expert with all the DH interviews!). I think we are also pretty aware of our faults and are honest about them. Our main fault would be that we have had high expectations, we have tried to manage this and are a lot more accommodating now. However after talking with friends I don't think we are any different. We just expect good communication, honesty and good quality work. We look at it for what it is - help around the house, and don't expect anymore or less than what we can do ourselves.

Maybe if your not already doing so pay more than the minimum wage as if you have two kids and a large house it may be off putting to some as the ammount of work involved would be greater than an apartment.

What sort of hours do you expect from your helper? Work load etc if long hours for the salary perhaps this is part of the problem.

If not then it may be the case that like you said expectations are a bit high or you just need to hang in there and the right person will come along.

I worked as a live in Nanny for quite some time in the past and i didn't mind working the long hours if i felt i was compensated accordingly if not i tended to feel taken advantage of.

xm

Red48, it sounds like you are doing the right things. Communication is key. Trust and respect both ways. All that good stuff.

Red48, I have had a very similar experience as you and I can think of the following:


1. Many helpers I've interviewed are put off by the heavy workload. They want a cushy little job cleaning an 800 sq ft flat for 2 professionals who are out all day and have no pets and no kids.


2. I don't know if this is right, but I heard that lots of Filipinas are applying to go to Canada, so the best candidates go there and the ones who didn't make it come to Hong Kong...


3. Since the HK Govt cancelled the levy many many people are changing their helper, so there is more "demand" and not so much "supply". This is also driving up the expectations as regards salaries.


WHAT YOU CAN DO -


It is a good idea to offer more than the minimum pay if you are expecting her to work long hours, or have high standards, or want her to do sth difficult or unpleasant.


Better to focus on interviewing helpers whose visa is about to expire (i.e. within a few days). Those who have a week or 2 or more in which to find an employer may be very much hoping to find a 'perfect' employer offering a high salary and requiring little work and will therefore turn down good offers. Those who have 2-3 days left have already become more realistic - they know that if they don't sign with someone soon they will have to go back to the Philippines and it will be harder to find their dream employer there!


I suggest you go to an agency on a Sunday, usually helpers whose visas are about to expire all hang out at the agencies on that day in the hope of finding an employer. ACJ is a good one, usually the standard of helpers is quite high, easy to find one with a finished contract + references. Tel: 2377 2890.


Lastly, make sure you decide quick enough. If you want to 'secure' a helper, for example you could go to ACJ on a Sunday, do the interview and if you are satisfied, sign her right there and then. Less opportunity for her to lose interest, shop around for a better offer etc.


Hope this helps & good luck to you.

Agreed with Snow Rose. ACJ is a great agency. Definitely sign on the spot as she says.

2. I don't know if this is right, but I heard that lots of Filipinas are applying to go to Canada, so the best candidates go there and the ones who didn't make it come to Hong Kong...


wrong: many filipinas use HK as a passage to canada.. good and bad maids come here. this comment make me feel like I came from a filter. :(

Thanks Snow Rose, this is great advice. What you have said backs up what I was thinking. We already offer more than minimum wage and it is only a couple of days a month that my husband and I work at the same time - otherwise one of us is usually around, so we encourage the DH to manage their time well so that when we are all home we can give them extra time off. We would be quite happy with part-time except that our schedules are always changing and that is too difficult for a PT to manage.

Apple79:


Sorry! I didn't intend to make anyone feel bad. I just mean that if many excellent candidates are going to Canada, then the number of excellent ones remaining in & applying to Hong Kong will be less. Of course some excellent ones will still work in HK for various reasons, it's just that they may be fewer in number than before, making it difficult for those who want a high-standard DH to find a suitable candidate.

Personally I prefer Sri Lanken helpers. May be you can give a try too.

Just a thought....wot was the reason for terminating your old helper? Did you part on good terms? Sadly, even if you did part on 'good terms' you MAY find you rumours have been spread about you. I have heard of it happening on more than one occasion and seen it first hand. Unfortunately there are some NASTY helpers out there.