Need advice on expenses on top of base Salary

Hello,


I'm new to this whole DH thing. I'm going thru an Agency right now, and he set up a few interviews for me. I met some really nice ladies, but I'm confused about the what to pay them on top of their salary. She would be a live out, which means I would have to pay for boarding house, and meal expenses. But how much is enough. I don't want them to over charge me. I have no idea what a boarding house costs. Some of them want to be paid $5000, then another $2000 for live out expenses. Is this too much? I understand the minimum pay is 3580, which is what I can afford to pay right now, but does another $2000 on top of that sound reasonable. Your advice is much appreciated.

cara covered the live-out thing so enough said about that.


For total costs of employing a helper, I'll use the list from the book "Hiring and Managing Domestic Help" and add some estimates.


- Recruitment agency fees. 2000-4000.

- Administrative and legal fees such as for immigration processing - A few hundred.

- Transport costs door to door from her home to yours and back. At least a thousand each way.

- Medical tests. A few hundred.

- Furniture for the maid’s room/space, including at least a bed and a closet

- Helper insurance. Around 700/year,

- Government levy. Currently suspended.

- Salary. 3580 minimum.

- Bonuses, if any.

- Food allowance. 770 minimum, or you can provide food, or a combination.

- Uniform and/or swim attire, if required

- Expenses while working, for example, transportation to and from errands, school pick-up and so forth

Thank you for the info. Wow, this is a lot to take in. I'm so overwhelmed right now as my wife travels a lot for work, and I try to work from home but doing that, taking care of a 3 year old, and trying to keep the house clean is damn near impossible. It just feels weird to have someone live with us in a 850sf apt. Many people say this is big for HK standards, but we are not used to it. So then to have another body using your shower, toilet, and just being there 24hrs a day is well....not something I want to do.


Not sure what to do now.

Interesting because we actually looked into all day kindergartens and we could not find one. Then again, our relocation company may have not bothered to tell us about them. We went to Montessori schools, and regular schools and when we asked about an all day program, they gave us a look like we were crazy or something. Our daughter is used to all day school because that's what she was doing back in California. My understanding is that the local Chinese think it is unhealthy for the child to be away from home for that many hours. I think its actually better for the child to be active all day with friends than to be with a helper that might not engage the child as much as a teacher or fellow classmate would. She goes to school now, but it's only for 3 hrs. Can you recommend any schools, or direct me to an information page? Thank you so much.


As far as getting used to a domestic helper living with us, yeah, I guess it would be easier for me to get used to than my wife, but I would still find it weird. We don't have maids quarters, but we do have a storage room, and I would feel guilty putting someone in there. You're right she would (hopefully) clean the toilet and shower everyday but what do you do when you just want her to go away for a few hours. Do you just say, go away, I can handle it for the rest of the day. Where does she go. I would feel bad. A lot to think about.


Thanks again.

.

All day schools do exist but frankly I would much rather have my kids in a "a few hours" pre-school and with our wonderful helper. Now our #1 is in primary it is 0830-1440 so hardly all day either.


"I think its actually better for the child to be active all day with friends than to be with a helper that might not engage the child as much as a teacher or fellow classmate would"


One does not exclude the other. A good helper will engage the child, arrange playdates together with other helpers and their cares, take the child to the playground, the beach, the woods. Plugging into the "helper network" will ensure your kids has as many playmates as she can handle. Note "good" helper. Part of what makes a good helper is a "good" employer with "good" management techniques.


My experience with many all day daycares has been that they are more "storage" than pre-school. Not saying they are all like that but I don't think they are by definition better than a helper at child care. It really depends.


"We don't have maids quarters, but we do have a storage room, and I would feel guilty putting someone in there"


It is good that you think about this, but note that most helpers might not even have had their own room "at home". The typical helper would rather be respected and treated well with a tiny room than have a nice room and be treated indifferently or badly. Besides, boarding house accommodations are much smaller and way less private.


"Do you just say, go away, I can handle it for the rest of the day. Where does she go."


Not in so many words, but a good helper knows how to "vanish" while still being around. Remember she is not a house guest, she is an employee. You set the rules. If you don't want to chat and be social, you aren't. If she doesn't get that, explain it. If she still doesn't get it, you have the wrong helper.


For better or for worse, HK is geared towards helpers and other solutions are much more tricky. Personally I think it is "for better" but that's me. ;)


I do recommend the book mentioned above, as it goes through all this stuff in depth.



"did the minimum food go up to $770 now? if so, sorry, my amount was wrong."


Sorry I think I was mistaken. Pretty sure it went from 740 to 750. Anyway it is in the 700s.

9) Get her a laptop and webcam connected to your wireless network. I fixed this up for a client. The hardware cost for a very nice 18 month old second hand laptop + new webcam was under 4k. Their helper can surf, chat and video conference with friends and family.

10) Give or lend her your old books and magazines.

11) Tell her it is ok to take a break when she is done with her work for the time being, and that this includes getting out of the house if she wants.


I have friends who live on around 1000 square feet with their helper. They make it work. With a good helper it should not be a huge nuisance.




Agreed with cara's assessment of relocation company + "local" kindy. For that matter many relocation consultants are expats themselves and are thus often very much up on local culture.