Posted by
kimmy
16 yrs ago
Our new helper has been with us for 3 weeks now and a few items from the kitchen are missing. I am absolutely positive I did not lose/misplace them (I haven't been doing much in the kitchen since she started. I am due to deliver our first baby any day now) and when I asked her to look for them she says she doesn't know where they are and cannot find them. These are not small things like spoons and are things we use quite frequently. What am I to do? charge her a small 'penalty' for losing them or just let it go? Maybe it's too soon to say but I find myself losing trust in her - her cleaning and cooking aren't up to par and she always has excuses for everything...
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kimmy,
sorry to hear your story. there was a similar thread a while ago about missing items possibly lost by the helper and people gave mixed opinions. talking about the rules, you are allowed to deduct a certain amount from her salary if you can prove she caused the loss. but of course people may or may not endorse you doing so and some may say you are mean, etc. etc. plus you don't know whether deducting salary will actually make things better or worse -- looks like she already has some attitude problem. if i were you at the current stage i would let it go for now -- you need to relax as much as possible and avoid feeling grated by things that are not absolutely necessary. if after some more time you are still not satisfied with your helper's job performance, it may make sense to get another one when you get the chance.
good luck and relax
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kimmy
16 yrs ago
thanks for your messages.. I'd asked her to look for them carefully and after a few hours she told me she really couldn't find them.. and then she got all dramatic saying how loyal she is with the families she works with and how she doesn't want this to affect 'our relationship'... she was almost crying! Honestly, I don't know if I want this kinda of drama..... and more importantly, not sure if I will be able to trust her with our baby when she has to look after her from time to time..... Am I being too mean/untrusting? This is our first helper.....
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kimmy
16 yrs ago
I think she might have simply misplaced them as she can be quite careless and forgetful sometimes. Although the thought that she might have taken them home did cross my mind in the beginning... (she doesn't live with us) She looks quite upset about it now though, which makes me feel it must be the former.....
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My previous helper frequently threw small things, like spoons and knives, into the rubbish bin... I noticed when I realized that she peeled potatoes/apples in the sink with dirty dishes. After that, she'd just grab everything and throw away...
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I often have things going missing in the kitchen, but I have so much stuff in my cupboards that my part-time helper tends to squeeze them wherever she can fit them, which is not always in the places that I like them kept. It sometimes takes me days to find them again! I've got to used to it now, so I don't tend to suspect that they've been stolen or broken and I don't stress out about it so much ... I'm just thankful on the days that she does the washing up and clearing away!:-)
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So CARIBBEANCOAST you mean tolerate petty thievery. Amazing!!!
Nat_76 You got a fabulous helper! Clearly she's not just a labourer, she's thinking...strategizing... I mean things picked up from the garbage doesnt constitute stealing :)
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