helper and privacy

that all sounds really good (tv etc) and i'm sure your helper will be very happy. we just have a helper for the first time in preparation for first baby - one of our biggest concerns was privacy! strangely it has been absolutely fine - remember they are probably not wanting to hang around you either and want their own privacy. Our helper automatically stays out of our rooms and living areas when we are in the house and goes straight into her room to have dinner and after she has cleaned up. it does depend how you flat is laid out - ours is standard kitchen then helpers room which helps as this is kind of her area. We plan to get a tv at some stage but haven't provided that or a radio or anything yet (the expense of getting the furniture and the helper was enough for the first month). She seems happy I have told her when she is done with work (not that busy) she is free to go out at night etc. no curfew I would feel funny about that as i figure that they are adults and take responsbility for themselves eg i've had a few late nights and gone to work the next day and been fine - might be a bit tired but you manage i'm sure if there was a pattern of forgetfullness or tiredness the next day you might have something to say (as any employer would) but i wouldn't feel comfortable telling an adult when to come home by (but our helper is older so not an issue). whilst our helper immediately stayed out of our way and respected privacy I still gave her house rules after one or two weeks just to be clear and one of these was to priorites the cleaning duties that need to be done in the flat for when we are not there so that particularly on saturdays we have our privacy. so far it has really worked - but she was doing it anyway so i get the feelign that is fairly standard. we also said we would of course respect her privacy and not disturb her after hours etc and we are hoping to be able to shut the door to the kitchen (and her area) once we have a cat flap in the door to the kitchen. that way she will have her space and less noise from our tv etc but it is all working well - if she is not busy int he day she is in her room or the kitchen/laundry so i can call her if i need something done and even if i am home she waits until i'm on the computer or watching tv to clean our room and bathroom etc she never cleans the room i am in.

good idea...she should be happy.


However, are you sending messages so strongly that you need your privacy such that your maid hides in her room all the time? does she have separate quarters behind the kitchen or a bedroom which is part of the flat? If so, you don't want the poor girl hiding in her room afraid to go use the washroom because you have your privacy in your living room. Just a point.


See her as being part of the household, not just a helper, but someone who is there for your child, then it won't be soo bad.


It's HK..can't have everything!

Well I would say that in the first situation above she would probably be horribly embarrassed and so there probably isn't the need for such strict rules. I think live out might be a better (albeit a little bit illegal) idea. I rent the upstairs flat for my helper, and I can't imagine what it would be like having someone here 24 hours a day - at least this way she comes in to work as I leave, and leaves fairly early in the evening. For us it's not about privacy so much as just to have a normal family life.

You need a local helper (one with a permanent ID card), I think the going rate is around $50 or 60 per hr part-time, or for a monthly contract of course you can come to any arrangement you like.