Married Couple pros and cons

I have had the same domestic helper for ten years. Her husband has previously worked in HK as a domestic helper (many years ago) and has been home caring for their child. The child is old enough to be left now and I am considering taking on my helpers husband as a second domestic helper. My helper is happy with the idea now that their child is older and her husband is keen to return to Hong Kong.

We have four children, a big house and a dog and I think it would be good to have another male around the house for the odd jobs, gardening and cars.

What are the pros and cons of having a husband wife team work for you?

Can they share the work load evenly or will my helper have a double load being my domestic helper and a wife as well?

If the male has a drivers license, can I then transfer that to HK so that he could drive for us as well?

I am just toying with the idea at the moment and so would love any feedback or thoughts on such a scenario.

thanks

Re: if he got international driving license from Philippines, he can easily apply HK driving license in Hong Kong. But you have to check with the Immigration if they will allow your DH to drive in Hk as part of the job.

I've known husband and wife team and they're always a great team to have if you can afford both. Better than two sisters working together, unless there's really a strong love and affection between them and they show similar attitude towards work.


More cons than pros. The only cons I can think of is the problem of the husband fooling around, and the marriage is under strain, but usually if the two are together, there's less of a chance that happening.


The pros are, yes, they will help each other and evenly, but you should clear this with your maid and tell her you "expect" her husband to be as good as she is, and even better since he's a guy! Hahhhaaa! Tell her to relay that to her husband before he comes so he'll come with the right mindset.


For driver's licence, that's convertible as mentioned by Malu, or he can take a short refresher course in Hong Kong since it's different - right hand driving and left hand driving difference.

we employ a married couple and there have never been any negative issues.


we employed the female first and when she mentioned that her husband had left the middle east and was returning to the philippines we asked if they would be interested in having him come to hong kong and work with us and she jumped at the chance.


we paid for driving lessons and although she is the boss, he is far from shiftless. but we explained that she was here first and in our eyes, that gives her seniority. but they do work very well as a team together.


the only issue that some people might have problems with is that we give them the same days off.


one of my big concerns was having another man in the house. it was one thing for our female helper to catch me in my knickers and t-shirt, but i really have to be careful to be sure i am fully and respectably clothed before leaving my room. but that isn't as difficult as i thought it would be. and it's not as if he's hanging outside my room.


the male helper takes care of things i would agonise muck up, fixing drawers on cabinets, killing c*ckroaches, replanting plants very nicely and without killing them, dripping faucets, washing machine issues...things that my husband would do but can't when he is travelling.


all in all, our experience in hiring a husband and wife team has been incredibly positive. they don't fight, there are no dramas...it has all been very very good.


hth