Posted by
vabu
15 yrs ago
Hello, I'm new to Hong Kong and just hired a live-in helper. We pay her a little over the minimum wage in addition to the new 740 HK food allowance. What is the common practice about Xmas bonus? Some people told me the helper might expect a full month extra salary. Considering the fact that by Xmas time she will have worked for us for only 2 and a half months, can somebody suggest what a reasonable bonus would be? (she seems fine so far, and we'd like to build a good relationship with her). Thank you.
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christmas bonus isnt a must. but since this is a special occasion to almost everyone its up to you how much you can give it to her in any form be in cash or a gift items. i do have a maid and normally give him a 1 month bonus.
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We have given a month's bonus, although this is perhaps a bit extravagant. However, we gave it at Chinese New Year, a more traditional monetary gift occasion. I would say for Christmas give an actual present or a perk. Give a bonus in a red packet for New Year. Also you could downsize the bonus since she has not worked for you so long.
"my mum used to say, 'those that expecteth receiveth nothing'"
Very wise.
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cd
15 yrs ago
We normally give a small gift for our helper to open, or up to $500 in cash, My helper is an employee, and although we value having live in help, I do not feel obliged to spend more on them than I would friends and family.
p.s my husband does not receive gifts from his employer, and a bonus is not guaranteed, sometimes nothing, sometimes a weeks pay, sometimes 2 weeks.
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Do you guys think $500 HK is fine for an Xmas gift?
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Personally, I would wait until the Lunar New Year when everyone else is giving out Lai See. I would give a small gift or cash like $500 is really a nice gift for Christmas but not a bonus of that much.
Also if you give her a big bonus now, so early in the contract you are setting it up so next year will be the same (or more) I would wait if I were you
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cd
15 yrs ago
$500 is plenty. We don't give a big bonus at CNY either, we are not chinese, neither is my helper, and as I understand it, the point of a laisee packet is to bring good luck and wealth etc, so it doesn't have to be a huge amount, its the act of giving thats important.
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cd, you don't give even a small amount? Why? If you don't receive a bonus yourself than I can understand it, but if you do and enjoy it immensely, then maybe you can make one person's life happy too even if just for a day?
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We've been in HK for many years and we have never given one month salary for Christmas and I have never heard any of my friends doing so.
We usually give 500hkd + a gift and it has always been much appreciated. As for the CNY, we just give her a 100 hkd note in a red enveloppe and she's happy too.
I don't think many people can afford to give a month salary nowadays and I agree, I wouldn't spend more for my helper's gift than for my friends' gift.
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cd
15 yrs ago
To punter, yes we give a small amount, either a couple of presents for our helper to unwrap, or up to $500 cash, and $100 in a laisee packet.
The traditional point of christmas is a religious festival, not to see how expensive a present I can give my helper, and I'm sure that as my helper is a christian, thats the main point for him too.
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i am a Fdh and my boss never give me xmas bonus but one of my friends received her early xmas bonus coz she is leaving hk for vacation on dec 18-....her boss gave her us$600...
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This will be our helper's 2nd Christmas with us. Last year she got a present to open and $500. hkd. This year is the same. CNY we give $100 in a laisee
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My helper is Indonesian. For the last two years, I give her HKD 1000 at the end of Ramadhan (the muslim celebration), HKD 1000 for her birthday dan HKD 888 for Chinese New Year.
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