we will have maid for first time today, advices please. (sorry for being so long winded)

Dear knowledgeable Asiaxpat community,


1. are they expected to have there own toiletries, including towels, tissue papers, even on first day?

2. we are thinking about installing 3 security cameras this weekend, where can we buy easy to install decent security cameras, even for the tech ignorant, allowing viewing via wifi and night vision? details like brand, price, location to buy please. we prefer the security cameras with the non transparent shell, so not sure which way they are looking.

2b. is it reasonable to have a camera in our kitchen?

3. is it reasonable to keep the "master bedroom" permanently locked? as jeweleries and computer notebooks are kept there.


l understand all this creating an atmosphere of trust, but its just from personal experiences of family and friends.

my mother had a maid, her first one, and over about half a year, the maid was so brazen to actually go in her wallet and steal $100s of dollars. my mother had trusted her. the last time the maid stole, she nabbed $500 from my mother's wallet when she was showering. my mother had counted and knew it was her since the maid was the only person in the house, "doing" her duties. at first the maid denied it wholeheartedly, but admitted eventually.

my friend had a maid who looked after his gran, things were stolen from the house as well.

my brother had a maid, and she was a good one. so even though some say the vast majority are good, honest people, l am sure there is a minority, perhaps 5%, who will steal. isn't it true that they are over here to earn salaries that would make Drs in their home countries blush in embarrassment?

does anyone else have experiences of maids here in HKG +ve / -ve?


sorry again for being so long winded



thanks in advance for advices and helpful comments

Fairly speaking, there are reasons to monitor the outsider living in your most private home.


Of course, most of the helpers are contributing and with good and kind mind.


1. are they expected to have there own toiletries, including towels, tissue papers, even on first day?


Personal consumables supposed to born by the user herself. But if you feel ok, you may of course give a reasonable quantity or just the initial 1 set.



2. we are thinking about installing 3 security cameras this weekend, where can we buy easy to install decent security cameras, even for the tech ignorant, allowing viewing via wifi and night vision? details like brand, price, location to buy please. we prefer the security cameras with the non transparent shell, so not sure which way they are looking.


Replied to your personal inbox for safety sake.



2b. is it reasonable to have a camera in our kitchen?


Kitchen is fine if you think there is needed, and leave reasonable area of reasonable privacy, like toilet and rest place.


3. is it reasonable to keep the "master bedroom" permanently locked? as jeweleries and computer notebooks are kept there.


If you think fit, just do it. Camera with automatic motion capture can help to ease your worry. Install another concealed one for countermeasure.



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JAgCongSM1U


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yV_5bNFbX0g


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=twXnzYlPDAw


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L18mihiJPDc


http://news.asiaone.com/News/AsiaOne+News/Singapore/Story/A1Story20090403-132884.html


http://www.livinginindonesiaforum.org/showthread.php/31469-Maid-nanny-stealing


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vKiCVBAFKcQ


http://www.nst.com.my/latest/indonesian-maid-jailed-for-stealing-from-employer-1.214668


http://sg.theasianparent.com/maid-woes-what-to-do-if-your-maid-is-stealing-from-you/

While I won't attempt to add to your info overload - think the previous responder has already armed you with a wealth of information - I would alert you about a more practical consideration: you will quickly get tired or overwhelmed from needing to review the daily footage of your maid! Are you sure this is something you wish to sign up for at the end of a long day at work? A better strategy: hire your maid carefully, train her well, and help her grow as a useful & trustworthy member of your household ... Good Luck!

everytime out, reckon will just lock our room as our security measure. she has a good background and characteristics to give feeling of trust. she has 4 beautiful children, she teaches bible studies in her church. she did bring her own toiletries but don't mind her using ours.

will check the links, just out of curiosity where is the best place to buy them?

Have you tried the big electronics mall located in Sham Shui Po? Better yet, if you happen to have any friends or families visiting from the US, ask them to buy it from Amazon ... good luck!

Actually sent tioga already the feature that would save effort to review ( some auto motion capture function) and let tioga less nervous about that.


Train and trust, build up the relationship with sincere heart every day.


And Good Luck.

by the way, how can you judge an unkown person without observing and establishing the mutual trust first?


Camera is a neutral mechanism for fact finding.



Locking the master room may be good to someone as less cleaning is assumed...


If mutual trust is built you of course can lower your arm to embrace the possibilities that in some past examples proven otherwise.

AsiaXdreamy - I sure hope your boss does not have camera in your desk/ office to check on how you go about doing your work. Then again, that shouldn't bother you, should it?


I am with Cara on this.

Good luck, let the thread owner judge the way of future in a fair and reasonable basis.

A recently reported case in Kowloon City Magistracy regarding a helper kept sexual harassing the children many times because " I like it". The parent found her kid yelling " don't kiss my pat pat" many times and discovered the tragedy.


My local colleague then sent me these that may shred light on why we cannot turn blind our both eyes on the new comer.


https://www.facebook.com/131408423700926/photos/pb.131408423700926.-2207520000.1405613586./276874272487673/?type=1&theater


https://www.facebook.com/131408423700926/photos/pb.131408423700926.-2207520000.1405614387./307473409427759/?type=1&theater


Of course, NOT EVERY ONE is like this. But there is a possibility and genuine need for us to review the need and how to monitor.


No matter what, we should be sincere to each other for building up mutual thrust, not by the mouth but the acts. (to employees and employers)