Posted by
RiceT
20 yrs ago
Looking for advice...Are most live-in domestic helpers off-the-clock (i.e. done with work) at a certain point in the evening, or do they work into the night if needed? Is there a law as to how many hours they can work each day? Thanks.
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:-)
20 yrs ago
at least that give her enough time to rest...read the contract..
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This thread puzzles me.... because your question is so indirect. Do you mean you want your helper to work at night and rest in the day? Or you want her to work 24 hours, IF necessary? They live-in because the immigration regulation said so and DOES NOT equal to they work for you any time you like.
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:-)
20 yrs ago
some helper works 24 hours.i.e. sleeping with the baby..
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zeta
20 yrs ago
You should give them at least 8 hours of uninterrupted rest. We don't usually ask our DHs to do anything after they finish their kitchen duties after dinner. So, that's from between 9pm - 10pm until 6am - 7am. But if we go out for the night, they will watch the kids until we return. They are allowed to catch up on their rest (if they wish) when the kids naps in the afternoon. There are no working hours rules in our house but the DHs are always willing to help out when we need them. Like when both of us were down with flu earlier this year, they sleep with the kids until we recovered.
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J.D.
20 yrs ago
I thought the "rules" were that helpers are only to work 8 hours a day.
But I also hear that most helpers do a hell of a lot more than that.....
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RiceT
20 yrs ago
Thanks for the answers. It seems open.
Mighty - I was not meaning anything by the post other than to get a feel for whether dh's have set hours or whether it's open...like other responders mentioned with if we're out for a night or sick and need extra help with an infant, etc. Not sure why there seemed to be hostility in your posted reply.
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cd
20 yrs ago
my help gets up at 6.45, 7.30am on sats, she helps gets the kids ready for school then has a breakfast break. Her lunch is around 12.30 - 1 for at least an hour, then she usually has another break from 5-7, does the cleaning up from dinner then goes to her room for the rest of the evening. She goes out every thurs evening to church and has every sun and bank holiday off. Sometimes she babysits in the evening, or helps out more in the evenings if my husband is away.
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There are no fixed rules about working hours. I personally don't want my helper hanging around all the time - we only live in a small flat - so I send her home (she lives in the flat upstairs) pretty much as soon as I get home. Most of my Chinese colleagues are shocked by this, as they have their helpers working basically 24 hours. They of course have time to sleep, but if the baby cries then it's back to work, no matter what the time.
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zeta
20 yrs ago
geiboyi is right, there are no fixed rules about working hours. A DH's duties, unlike a desk job, cannot usually be done in a block of 8 or 10 hour period. As I have a small baby and I work full time, I need my helper to help me with the baby who wakes up at 6am and prepare dinner. So, it looks like they have a long working day from 6am to 8-9pm. However, as both my hubby and I work full time and the older one goes to school (half day), as long as they get their work done, they take breaks during the day. I think the main point is to ensure that they have sufficient rest time. A tired DH will not be a good DH.
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RiceT
20 yrs ago
Thanks; your insight helps a lot. I wasn't sure if there were restrictions on work hours...i.e. set times, particularly if there are infants in the house whose sleep schedules can vary a lot.
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F100
20 yrs ago
The reason why the locals keep them working and do not send them out to socalize is because they don't want trouble.
The helpers start gossiping about your personal lives, their salaries, benefits, food allowance...etc...
basically you end up with an unhappy helper.
ie..the grass is greener on the other side.
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F100 thats really true, they always like to compare and gossiping is a very common trend for DH
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My helper goes off the clock when she finishes tidying up the kitchen which is usually around 8.30pm to 9pm. Because her room is downstairs, both we and she get some privacy. She's normally down there in the afternoons as well doing mostly laundry and ironing. I'm sure she has the occassional naps but to me this is OK. My 19-mth old gets her lunch at 12pm, after that it's my turn, then it's the helper's turn. I give her specific chores that need to be done daily and weekly - when she does them, I leave it to her to manage. I think it's a good idea to be strict abt what needs doing but flexible abt how and when they're done - as long as their done. Past and present helpers have said how helpful it is to get clear and precise instructions and feel very happy and proud that I trust them enough to know what they're doing. Anyway, hope this tip is useful.
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Troy
20 yrs ago
Geiboyi, What you mentioned about chinese families making their helper work for very long hours does not only hold true for the Chinese. I know of atleast 2 western families with working moms and small babies where the babies sleep with the helper so that the moms can have a good night's sleep. So lets not generalize here all the time( and yeah I am not Chinese)
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three
20 yrs ago
My helper starts work at 6.30am when she makes school lunches for the kids etc.
She is finished for the evening when dinner is cleared away, this varies a bit but she is always finished by 8-8.30pm.
Once she has finished clearing up, if I don't need her for baby sitting which isn't that often, once a week at most she is free to do what ever she likes. I don't have a set time that she has to be home if she goes out, what she does in her own time is her business. She never abuses this and goes out maybe once a week and is never home late.
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RiceT
20 yrs ago
Thanks everyone again for the input. It definitely helps. Glad to hear that many of you have good experiences with your helpers.
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RiceT- My helper is always up when my children get up. She has her meals when she wants and when she is satisfied that all the chores are done then she finishes up for the night. Some nights I am telling her to stop as it is 10.00 but she insists on finishing sweeping/mopping or whatever she is doing then going to bed. We look after our helper very well. If we go out we always make sure she orders something to eat and not just run after the children. We do not push her at all to work these long hours it is her choice. So I think the time that they finish work is entirely up to the individual. I have three children so obviously there is more to do than a 1 child family. Each to their own!!
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