Posted by
john5023
19 yrs ago
I am starting to think about finding a helper for later this year. Anyway, having read a few of the threads lately about dishonest helpers (for example, over soap?!?) and/or firing helpers for dishonesty/lying/stealing, I was wondering what people do with their private documents (travel docs, financial statements, etc) and loose change/money. I realize that I will need to be more organized than I am now, but I don't want to be overly paranoid as well. It just seems easier to trust people but that could be too naive.
Do you give your helper the key to the mailbox?
Do you "hide" your money/passports/financial/medical statements?
Any other advice on safekeeping things of value or of a personal nature?
Thanks.
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Generally it's other forms of dishonesty rather than nicking your passport and silverwear that I've encountered.
I leave everything lying around the house, except for bank statements and other financial documents, which go in a locked filing cabinet (although the maid probably knows where the key is).
I think, once you have a maid living with you, she'll know all your personal matters that you bring home with you. If you're really concerned, you could receive all your financial statements etc in the office.
Clearly, however, I need to start locking away my soap.
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Every one, come on. Please stop thinking as if every maid is a thief. They just come from a diffeent country and a different culture. Most of them have been working as a maid almost their whole life. Do you expect saints from them? I dont mean to discrminate them but just want to point out that they are just ordinary people as you and me and their career happened to be a Helper. Some are nosy and some are not. If you have any valuables (jewelry etc) and you are worrying about it, it might be better to put them in a safety box in a bank, as Mrs. Miggins suggested. For your passports, financial statements etc, dont you find it more organized to put them in a filing cabinet. Lock it or not, you shld let your helper know whether she is allowed to open that or not. I told my helper not to touch that cabinet because it doesnt need any cleaning. She should obey your orders.
But for the mail box, I wont give the key to my helper because I think I should be the one to check every mail before her.
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I just bought a safe in Jusco for 1800hk and it is huge.They deliver for free. I feel safer already. I am keeping jewery in it and passports. I have had 4 maids in HK. I feel so bad saying this but all of them stole from me. The maid I have now has been with me 4 years and I care about her. I buy her clothes and give her my old clothes 4 times a year. I give her name brand shampoo and skin care. I pay her extra for parties or after hours work. I really don't think it is fair or right to make a maid work all morning ,afternoon and late into the night. Even though I have treated her better then just an employee like apart of my family she steals. She steals skin care products from my business, money, octopus cards (many), clothes. I feel sick inside when things go missing. People wonder why I don't fire her but she is a good person. I think she can't resist temptation. I have a lot of girlfiends and all of them have said they can't trust their maids. I would hate to fire our maid because she needs us but I can't understnd why she does what she does. Just in furniture, clothes,jewery and extra's she makes more double or triple the average maid in Hong KOng. I don't think every maid is a thief I think that poverty can make people do things that they in their hearts believe is wrong but because it is just so easy do it without thought.
I am more careful and I try to lock things up and keep track of everything in my home. I have a customer who had the same maid for 7 years and they thought of the maid as one of the family. This maid went home for Christmas last year and all the family jewery, gold(they had a lot of gold from the wedding and 2 babies being born), money and loads of clothes and other treasures from there home. This stuff does happen. It is scary!
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Angel
19 yrs ago
I am Filipino, it sad for me to hear that some helpers did something wrong to their employer. i understand why.life in Philippines is really bad,i blamed my government why some people need to go abroad and work as a maid, maybe if we have better country, better president i am sure that there's no Filipino domestic helper here in HK.that's why some fil.maid they can't resist temptation. I am sure that even though they steal your soap,skin care etc. they're not a really thief.because real thief don't care soap,skincare,passport etc.they just badly needed..my heart is crying why some of my country man turning into bad person...but i can't do anything.. ilove helping people,when i was in HK i helped a lot of DH who are terminated,i took them to our place until they can 't find a place for them to stay or until they can't find employer some of them are stealing some money but i thought that its just money its not a big deal for me because i know that they need it.
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cd
19 yrs ago
As much as I get fed up with my helper sometimes, I have never had a reason to distrust her. We always leave loose change and jewellry lying about, even my purse and my husbands wallet is often on the table. Nothing has ever been taken, and nothing was ever taken with my previous 2 helpers, so there are many honest helpers out there, don't assume that if you have a helper they are going to steal from you, most don't.
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Angel
19 yrs ago
most of the fil.maid are they didn't finish their study.i guess that employers should understand them because they don't have what you had, back in their country.treating them as a person not as DH i think that will encourage them not to do such bad things.
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MaryKay how heavy was the safe you got. coz i saw a 40kg safe. its as heavy as luggage and they can just walk out with it. now im getting really concerned. i have branded diamonds, gold, branded bags, branded coats and fur worth millions of yen.
should i start making catalogue of my valuables? :(
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Yes I have a safe and the passports and sensitive financial documents were kept there. But that couldn't stop our previous helper stealing items of my childrens' clothing that she thought would look better on her own children. It is a big lottery. Good luck.
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056F
16 yrs ago
I think its a kindness & sensible for the employer to keep all valuables out of sight & hence out of temptation. We bought a cheap fire safe (about $1,500). Its great! It keeps all the passports, sensistive paperwork etc + jewellery behind a key lock & digital code & offers 2 hours fire protection too.
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I think it's wise to keep your valuable items and important documents locked. We have a locked suit case in our apartment. In case something of that nature is lost, there is no misunderstanding. We keep loose changes around. We don't want to stay on top of our help that much. That said, we don't take off our guard completely. After all, she is not part of our family.
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We must be really relaxed then! -My husband gets per diems when travelling for work in the local currency and when he brings home the leftovers (often large amounts, I think we have about €2000, $500USD, £600 plus others at the moment), we just put them in a drawer with the intention of using the funds for a holiday at some point. Our passports are in an unlocked drawer, my jewelry (don't have much though) is in the kitchen, bathroom, bedroom ...I sound rather disorganised don't I?!!! I think we should be more careful about our cash at least but we lock the doors and we have 24 hour security on the door of our building so it's no biggie to us.
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It all depends on the helper. If you know her well and feel that she is 100% trustworthy there is no problem.
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I've had good and bad helpers.
Over the years, I've had 2 helpers who have taken nothing from me and I have had another 2 helpers who have taken things from me - huge soft toys, birds nest, bags, clothes etc. They aren't significant, though, I'm more hurt that someone I trusted did that to me.
I have invested in a safe also.
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birds nests Gemma? what is that? on the topic - we dont lock anything (probably silly i guess) and have money lying around too - well not in view but easy enough to take... guess we just trust our helpers, fingers crossed so far...
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i figured that was the birds nest you use for cooking - why would anyone still it tho - so strange?
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FKKC
16 yrs ago
Because you can sell it to some 'organizations'. Even other stuff if they are in demand.
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ldsllvn, birds nest is expensive. We cooked it on its own over slow fire for an hour or two? I cannot remember. It's supposed to be good for pregnancy ensuring that baby's skin is smooth? Don't quote me on that, I cannot remember.
I agree with Peggie that a balance is important. You don't have to feel threatened with a helper when it comes to money but at the same time, it's good NOT to tempt anyone.
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yeah i understand about the tempting thingy since in our house growing up were not supposed to show toys were not willing to share to friends.
The issue is you buy things to enjoy. And jewelry in a safety deposit box doesnt sound fun. Branded bags and clothes kept under lock and key once taken out and seen is knowledge already which can be taken advantage of. Trust is easy to talk about. It happens to be the best solution. But its hard to give and we all have to be very cautious. Many times our part-time worker took things i could've give them had they asked and even valuables froma hidden jewelry box. But she saw it once and knew where i hid it. She thought since theres so many, we wouldnt notice little ones she took. I didnt run after it, my parents knew where they live and how poor they are. I thought, it could be the most beautiful and valuable thing she thinks she have. Those were beautifully faceted loose round crystals which i could've made for earings. When the light hits them they shine gloriously and reflects many colors, she might have thought they were diamonds. I remember it fondly, it was my mom's. I told her and said let it be.
And i dont want a repeat performance :) so im reading around getting ideas. on how you protects your valuables and restrict your maids.
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angel,i really don't feel at ease starting when i read your reply to this thread,as a matter of fact,i seldom posting a reply to any thread of this forum but because you are degrading and humiliating your own fellow filipinos it makes me feel so bad and it pushed me to draw this reply.did you ever know that in this world whether you are in a high position down to a lower position,they do stealing and that's not only because of poverty or it's because they didn't finish their studies.And if they do stealing,you can't just tolerate them,teach them instead.And its not a consideration to let them do bad things because you thought they need it,because they don't have it back home? To those employers have this kind of helpers"stealing",pls....do not tolerate them doing it,but of course I do know that some are doing this but some are not.I believed,most of the filipinos are kind hearted and can be trusted of course.....Filipinos are still the best and are talented....
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