How much to pay the maid for extra work days

Monthly pay divided by the number or working day , multiply by the days she has to work extra. Since it's her normal day off, it won't hurt to multiply it by 2.


A little/inexpensive ( unless you want and could afford to be more generous) gift will surely be appreciated..more for the thoughts than anything else.

I don't see any reason why days off can't become a paid working day especially when the employers are away. True, days off swapping happens a lot of time and is legally acceptable if such arrangements could be done at the beginning of the month ( or something to the effect) { I wonder how many employers would feel like if their boss would tell them that he has to be away say, Wed. and Thursday so could Mary please take those days off instead and work over the weekend? }


Another option, which I think- as a helper myself is most agreeable in case the employer is hesitant to pay extra-- which is not the case here)- is since not much work could be done during those Sundays, she could "save" those two days for "emergency" days off that she may need ( i.e friends /relatives coming in town) OR it could be added to her home leave.

What i would do in your situation is to ask my helper if she had any problem with looking after the dogs on the two rest days.


If she would rather have her 24 hours off you would have to do as Green suggests, and swap rest days for the days you require her to work, keeping in mind the time period in which the leave has to be taken.


If she agrees (as I hope she would, given that she's unlikely to be overworked while you are on holidays and the 24 hour rest day is designed to prevent employers from unfairly exploiting their helpers), I note that the answer to Q4 of chapter 4 of the helper guidelines says that while you cannot compel your helper to work on her rest days she can do so voluntarily.


If she volunteers to work, ask her whether she would like to be paid extra or whether she would like time off in lieu (eg extra home leave as souffle queen suggests).


If she wants $$,you could elect to pay her what is the going part-time rate ($60 per hour) - I'm assuming that all she has to do on the rest day is look after the dogs which would leave her with a lot of free time between walks and toilet breaks. I think that the part-time rate is only fair if it still leaves her enough time to do other things (eg go to church, have lunch with her friends)that she would do on her day off. If the type of care you need means that she needs to be home the whole day i'd suggest doubling the daily rate of her monthly salary, at a minimum. From recollection, professional dog carers charge $450 upwards for a daily two hour visit and walk.


The guidelines do not stop you from paying your helper a bonus for extra work that she does - provided that she does the work voluntarily.

I agree with Green. I used to work with my employer who would only approved my leave when I've cleared my priorities. Sometimes he will only approved my leave 2 or 1 days before the actual leave day. There was one occasion where I submitted my leave of two weeks to go on a holiday in Greece but until the last minute was not able to get my leave approved due to workload and lack of back up staff. In the end, I wasted money of unwanted flight and accommodation. I think some DHs have to understand that we are not treating them as a beck and call just because they are helpers, but to be a little bit flexible. Often times, based on experience, helpers would prefer their employers to pay in cash rather than swapping days because for them having to take leave on weekdays is not much fun for them as they could only meet their friends on Sundays or do whatever on Sundays.

Hi, Green.


Not surprise at all. I have lots of friends who works for expat employers and have friends of my own who are expats themselves. I am aware that they have to work during Chinese New Year and local holidays to accomodate their clients/partners who are US and EU based. I know that there is a small, yet existing number that works until 2am for a video/tele conference.


I myself do not have regular days off. I take off when I'm not needed and usually still has to run errands for the house on my days off that I am in town and we need something for the following days. When we travel, at times I have to work for 5 weeks withpout a proper day offs ( except that there wil be lots of easy days )I do not mind because this could be swapped anytime during "emergencies"- ( for my gratis works to promote racial harmony and personal meetings-) as long as we are not entertaining on that day. My boss and I always mark in our diaries the days I MUST be at work or when I NEED to be out and we work around it, for the past 8 years with no hiccups. The key here, I think is all about giving as much as receiving , if not more.


Personally, I do not mind the swapping, it's just that in this thread the question was how much Positano should pay , not what other options there might be. And yes, I agree with you that the helper WILL certainly prefer the extra pay. I surely would, but always prefer for a longer home leave instead.


And somehow, I won't be surprise if the helper will be asked what she prefer to hear her say " Oh don't worry Ma'am/Sir, I'll be more than happy to do it for free". I would, in my case. Afterall, the work load for the next 2 weeks won't be much.


Helpers are, for the most part very giving and will be more than happy to be of help above and beyond what should and should not be as laid down by the contract.

I agree with souffle queen. Given the choice of :


a) swapping rest days for alternative days within the month;


b) getting paid a bonus for volunteering to work on her rest days; or


c) getting extra home leave in lieu of extra work on her rest days;


most helpers I know whould choose (b)or (c).


They are all LEGAL options available in this situation provided the employer does not "compel" the helper to work on her rest day ( ie the helper chooses to work on her rest day).

I agree wih green it doesn't appear the helper has an option in this. I would ask her what she thinks but no matter what she says i would give her some extra time off and reward her with a bonus for helping out when she doesn't need too. This way everyone should be happy and everyone is treated fairly.