Terminating Contract of Helper

Was hoping someone could help me with the procedures of terminating my helper.

I have looked on the websites but the only thing I can find is the fact that I have to notify her termination within 7 days.


She has been with us for 4 months. I have a 2 month old baby and have given her 3 warnings (Verbal) since she joined as her hygiene is really poor. I have showed her, sent her on a 2 day helper course, pleaded with her and the last resort today is to terminate her contract.

I am a stay at home Mum and the whole care of my son has been by me (with the odd hold him for 5 minutes or watch him while I go to Park and shop). I know at his age he cant really do much but she doesnt even speak to him, sing to him, nothing. If I ever asked her to watch him he is put straight in his chair and the TV is turned on.

I have been a complete softie so far.. Sent her back already to Philippines as father was sick, gave her one months wages and 2 days off for her birthday. Always share all food with her (she has food allowance too). If we have take away so does she. She sits with us at table. I encourage breaks etc and have let her do her own thing. It was only last week that I actually moved things and discovered nothing has ever ever been cleaned properly. The house looks perfect but if you were to move anything the dust and dirt behind would make you gag! If I were a restaurant health and safety would have shut me down!!


Actually feel very upset.. gave her so much (too much in hindsight) and have been well and truly kicked in the teeth!

Sorry - I didnt even see the post before mine! Guess thats my question answered!

Hi Mother,

I think that your experience has been mirrored by many people who are not used to having a DH (me included). If you get another one, I suggest you actually try to see how they are with children first, have them interact in a casual way with your baby, or ask if they have any children of their own if they aren't in HK already and you are interviewing by phone or video. Ask them what they do to entertain their own kids.

If child care is important to you emphasis this during your interview, if cleaning or special hygien is imporant make it very clear from the get go that you have certain expectations and you will be checking to see if they can meet these expectations. You can be fair and still be firm, honestly, many girls like to know where they stand in terms of work standards rather than try to guess themselves.

Give them feed back one a week for the first month and ever few months therafter until you are both "on the same page"

Good luck

PS You have been too generous with your days off!

ensure that you have everything in writing. also include in the termination letter the reason why you are terminating the helper. ask her to acknowledge the letter and it would help if there is a witness . you want all bases covered. i.e. you don't want her to come back to you with charges of unlawful termination, and or to make up horror stories about you. the witness would be handy in case she says she was coerced into signing the document

Also if you get another helper, try and always keep an employer/employee relationship, not friends. Treat them with respect but definately keep boundaries. We never haver our helper eat with us as that is our private family time, also I think helpers like to have their own time and privacy.