Christmas bonus-how much?



ORIGINAL POST
Posted by Susie1 16 yrs ago
My helper has only started her contract on Friday 28th Nov, she had a pre-planned holiday to Phils, paid for by last employer which starts on 21st December-4th January. We will have had her for less than one month by then, we intend to pay her normal wages anyway for the whole of December, even though she won't be here. We were thinking of buying her a present, do you think she will expect aChristmas bonus as well this year? considering we have allowed her to take this when we don't benefit from her services, and she will still expect the weeks holiday she is entitled to foor the first year of employment with us. Any suggestions of what we should buy her?

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COMMENTS
Susie1 16 yrs ago
P.S she is already paid 5000 hkd a month

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Wiz Bang 16 yrs ago
yes a present is different from a bonus in their minds. it is also different from a chinese new year lai see


best that you explain this to her or she could cause trouble.


if you buy present, please dont buy anything expensive like a phone. just a token like a bottle of lotion.


accdg to the law, she is entitled to 7 days leave after 12 months service

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kneebows 16 yrs ago
Don't concern yourself with what she expects. You are paying her for two weeks when she is absent, that is bonus enough. If you disagree and want to give her more, give her what you feel you can afford and what you think she deserves not what you think she wants - you call the shots as the employer. From my own experience being the nice, friendly employer early on sets you up for grief. Be business like, and as she proves herself soften if you like.

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Wiz Bang 16 yrs ago
and if you don't want any future trouble, make everything in writing i.e. the bonus, the free flight etc. and that she acknowledge it.

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cd 16 yrs ago
You're already paying 2 weeks holiday pay after only 4 weeks service, so no, I don't think you should pay a xmas bonus, and no I don't think you should buy her a present. Do you normally buy presents for people you have only known 4 weeks?

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neenib 16 yrs ago
I would pay a bonus, she has the paid trip home already. We do not buy gifts for our helper from my husband and I, but for my helper's birthday, I had my child pick out a small gift at the Jade Market and she gave it her. It's a nice gesture and you don't start going into that over-familiar territory.


Remember she is your employee and there is no obligation to buy her gifts.

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katana 16 yrs ago
Bonus or present or both is up to you and you only! Forget any 'standards' as there are none. You pay above the minimum whilst most don't so from this alone you can see that there is such a difference in approach. Personally if anything I'd buy a jumper or slippers or something that can be used by her - the FDH benefits and so do you as you don't want her getting ill! I knew of one employer who had a FDH who did not wash much so they bought here some deoderant & soap. But at the end of the day as I say above you decide; buy her a gold watch or nothing or whatever its your decision.

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neenib 16 yrs ago
Sorry, I did a typo! I meant to say I WOULDN'T pay a bonus as she has the trip home already. Perhaps after she has worked for you for a longer length of time. We are paying our helper a small bonus, and then my children will give her a small christmas gift.


That is the only time our helper receives money/bonus from us. All going well we will give her a pay increase next year.

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Wiz Bang 16 yrs ago
not only that, you are doing other future employers a favor coz if she decides to leave your employ, and work for someone else - she could start asking ridiculous things from her new employer just because she got those benefits and pay from her previous employers... the cycle goes on and on

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Susie1 16 yrs ago
Youare right Wiz Bang,I think I'll take the majority advice, and buy her a token gift, she gets enough with 2 weeks paid for when she has just started work for us, and also has already been dropping hints about wanting to go to England for a holiday ( she certainly won't be going at our expense), and wanting Christmas in the Philippines each year, telling us that former employers have usually paid . we can't leave Hk and visit our own children and grandchildren at Christmas because it is my husbands busiest time of year in Re-insurance. I know it is a long time off, just having started her contract with us, but she will be due a weeks holiday towards the end of this year, then at the end of her contract she will be due a holiday with a one way ticket to Phils. We are not expected to pay her return air fare each year are we? unless we are totally satisfied with her work, and attitude. so far she has had a slight cold, and played the 'dying duck', I gave her Beechams cold powders to take, and she still said that she wanted to see the Doctor, so I think I have a hypochondriac on my hands too.

I'm waiting till the morning to see if she actually went to the Doctor, I know she spent all weekend in Central

I am a registered General Nurse practitioner, and I realise that sometimes a Doctor is needed, but not for a little cold, when she only 'puts on a cough' if she hears us pass her room, if we creep by there is silence no coughing or sniffling.

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FKKC 16 yrs ago
From your description, you've got a greedy & sneaky one there! Better not give in to everything she wants unless you think it's reasonable and happy to do so or else she will always be on the upper hand and life at home will be miserable for you.

Do some homework and know your rights but give extras when you feel she deserves them.

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neenib 16 yrs ago
If my helper started "dropping hints" about things, ie., holidays, I would come straight out and ask what she wants. I told my helper from the get-go, that if she wants something, we are happy to listen and make a decision, but none of this fiddle farting around. So far she has come up to me twice and asked if she could leave a little earlier on a Saturday. That's it. Tell her be up front or don't bother talking.


As for the cold, eveyone gets colds. What can a doctor do? You can't prescibe medicine for a cold. Send her to the chemist to buy some panadol cold and flu.


If she is going to start this crap when she has only been with you for a few weeks, imagine what it's going to be like in a few months. Nip it all in the bud now and tell her what your expectations are and what you will and won't tolerate.

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Wiz Bang 16 yrs ago
and also tell her that you will not tolerate her comparing you with her previous employers and her friends' and relatives' employers, including benefits, pay etc.

and if she is not happy with that, then she can find other employment.


if you want to really be objective about it, write is as a memo and let her acknowledge it


as for a cold, there is no need for a doctor unless it is serious and it has been going on for weeks. again this is a matter for you to tell her how things work, and put it down in writing like a handbook i.e. when to see the doctor.


put your foot down, you run your household as you see fit not your helper

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kneebows 16 yrs ago
I wouldn't give an inch to this one because she sounds like the type who will take a mile ... via the Labour department with a sack full of lies.

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