What to do??

My helper is a nice lady, quite stable and mature and does a lot of work at church and I think trustworthy. She has been working in HK for 13 years.


At the moment, I am not working hopefully will be soon. The problem is that I don't feel that I can rely on her.


There are only two of us in the house...no kids, no dogs, no elderly people but we do entertain.


She is not great with cooking, not even Filipino style. She's not good with timing dinner in terms of having it ready on time and cooked levels. I have tried to teach her how to cook but its difficult. I am now having to cook the meals in order to get a decent meal.


On the ironing front, we wash clothes every two or three days to avoid a pile up. It was taking her up to 4 hours to do the ironing. Even my husband was complaining and asking why she was still ironing when he got home at 8 pm. I had a visitor come over and she noticed that it took her 15 mins to iron one pair of pants. It has gotten to the point, where I've had to be present for a few ironing sessions to see where the problem lies....which is, no common sense and because she doesn't the item on the board properly, ends up ironing in and creating a crease.


Cleaning wise, things are OK..but I do have to remind her of things...


Technically she hasn't done anything wrong and she does what we ask. Her problem is that she doesn't think or use common sense.


I am getting tired of having to monitor and I don't like doing it anyway and I am sure she doesnt like it either. I need to be able to go back to work knowing the house will run.


But what to do??


sorry this is longer than i planned...and maybe it's a just a vent

If you have been teaching and directing patiently and there has been no improvement, there will not be in the future.


"Nice lady" is good, but in the end she is an employee and as such needs to perform. It sounds as if you have been very patient. No helper is great at everything but even someone who sucks at ironing (like me) can handle a pair of pants in 3-4 minutes.


At this point I would let her go. What's the point of having a helper if she is no help. While of course you will from time to time have to give direction, a good helper shouldn't need to be constantly monitored.´

Thanks for the feedback axptguy38....



I just feel...tired...and in such a dilemma.


My husband knows its tiring on me...but he wants some 'stability' in the house because our last maid brought on so many problems with her debts to the triads and son on....

I know that it can be hard to go through the hassle. But you're just suffering right now. What's the point if she creates more work than if it were just the two of you? My wife the manager would have fired such an employee long ago on the basis that it won't get better and that person is a burden.


Third time is the charm for you I hope.



Not to be too forward but our helper's cousin is looking for a job and I do believe she is very good. Also I know a good agency. PM me if you are interested.

axptguy38 - would you mind to pm me with the details of your helpers cousin? I'm looking for one at the moment too thanks!

Hi annie, I suspect that it was more of a vent that a request for advice because if I may take the liberty of reading between the lines, I think you've already decided what would be best and you're just looking for confirmation that your basis for your decission is fair/right.


I worked at my previous workplace for 6 months and was then joined by a new coworker as we expanded. She was a darling and such a nice person but when it comes down to it, if I didn't do her job for her, it wouldn't get done. She was about ½ way through her 3 month trial when I decided that it was up to her to prove she could do her job and not lean on me (busy enough as I was) too much. The unfortunate result for this lovely woman was that both she and the bosses came to the realisation that she wasn't right for the job and she found a job elsewhere. She's now much happier in a position which really suits her and after her I got a brilliant coworker who made my work life lots more fun.


Good luck making your decissions.

Mixeymum. I sent you that PM.