Helper breaking things, what do I do....?

We've had our helper for 2.5months now, and are generally happy with her. But this morning, she broke one of our precious crystal champagne glasses and I don't know what to do about it.


When she lost our vegetable peeler last month, I deducted hkd30 from her salary out of principal... (she'd broken something the previous month and I'd told her to be careful and that I'd deduct from her salary if it happens again so I had to follow through)

And recently, she broke a glass soap dish. which I was planning to deduct (out of principal, again). but crystal champagne glass?? it costs hkd2k and i can't take that from her salary! So what shall i do everyone??


We'd hired her directly from the Phils - am I to accept her mistakes as she has no previous experience? she has an excellent attitude while her working skills need improving.. I don't want to upset her too much but I need her to be more careful, how shall I go about doing this.....?

I have noticed that some helpers really have no conception about how much certain things cost. I guess it makes sense given the economic disparity. However it is one of those things you may have to clear up.


Start by having a sit down talk with her. Tell her what she is doing well. Then tell her she needs to improve on certain things. That way the conversation is not negative. Also, ask her if she has any thoughts.


If you do see improvement, praise it. If you don't, warn her that you cannot keep her on if she does not improve.


If you still see no improvement, you will have no choice but to let her go.


Since you think she has a good attitude, I would say there are good chances things will get better.

maybe explain her the value of the different things and mention where you will deduct and where not. i think you are going overboard to deduct 30 HKD for a peeler or deduct anything for a plate.


a champagne glass is indeed expensive, but i would rather explain to her which ones are these expensive items that need special care

To deduct $30 for a vegetable peeler ("on principle") seems really mean. Was it really worth risking resentment and bad feeling over? Likewise, the soap dish. Accidents happen.


In the 18mths that I've had my helper, she's probably broken 3 (inexpensive) glasses and one plate, burnt a few things with the iron, shrunk a couple of t-shirts, scrubbed the colour out of a patch of carpet, and mysteriously has lost 3 of my teaspoons (I assume carelessly thrown away when she's cleared plates into the bin). We made it clear from the start that we understand that accidents happen, and all we ask is that she tells us when something breaks / gets lost / gets spoiled. It makes for a good relationship. She tells us honestly when something happens. I say, "Oh never mind - maybe next time you could do it this way... etc."


But when it comes to something expensive, like my crystal glassware, I make it clear that these are expensive items, that I expect them to be washed with great care etc - and so I know that she does take pains to make sure they are handled carefully. If one were to break, I'd be annoyed. But it could just as easily be me or my husband who dropped it in the sink. I wouldn't deduct money from someone who cannot afford it for a luxury item that I can afford to replace.


I think you have to explain to her the value of things and how to handle certain precious items. And if she is a naturally clumsy person, then take over the care of those items yourself.


If she has a good attitude and is trying hard, and if she starts improving, then you really don't want to spoil that relationship over a broken glass - or even worse - a vegetable peeler.


Sit her down and say how pleased you are with her attitude and whatever else but ask her to be more careful with your belongings. If breakages become a pattern, then yes, she deserves a warning - but I don't think it sounds out of control yet.

Just remember that if you do deduct breakage costs etc from your helper's salary (which is legally ok, petty or not_ there's a limit to how much you are allowed to deduct each month.

Like others have already said, accidents happen. I've lost count of how many odd sets of glasses I have ... I've probably broken most of them myself! I also have some expensive crystal glassware, and whilst I would be upset if it gets broken, at the end of the day, if something means so much to you, then the best thing to do would be to carefully wash it yourself ... but even then, accidents happen. I've even had glasses broken by guests at the dinner table ... you can hardly ask them to pay to replace it!


It is unrealistic to expect a helper to appreciate the value of certain things ... HKD2K for one glass is like half of a helper's monthly salary. If she realised that, she'd probably be scared to death to touch them. Personally, for glassware of that value, I'd be inclined to only use them for special occassions and then wash them myself ... I wouldn't let my helper near them because they do so easily get broken. Any other times, use cheaper glassware that can easily be replaced if your helper's doing the washing up!

May be she thought it was strong glass like a tumbler.

She didn't do it intentionally so may be you should teach her how to clean champagne glasses.

I don't think she would have had them for fine dining back in her village in the Philippines


What would you do if your guest had broken it? Would you demand compensation?


A child dies every minute of starvation in the world. No doubt you will have at least a set of four so that is $10,000. I am not saying you are not entitled to expensive champagne glasses. Good on you that you can afford it but just breathe, let it go, and put it into perpective

Accidents do happen, however when things are broken through careless neglect then I would deduct the amount through her salary. The cost of a potato peeler is irrelevant, the lack of attention is what is being penalised.

My last helper drove me insane breaking things which had great sentimental value. I asked her repeatedly to take care, that although some items were not expensive they were precious to me, but still they were broken. I ended up wrapping valuables and boxing them up. When I started to make her replace items the breakages became minimal.

I felt it went beyond not understanding the cost of things, but more a case of not caring either way. She knocked chunks out of my furniture or put so much furniture polish on the table the mats would stick to it! She was with us for two years and it was only when I lost my temper that she changed her behaviour.

Talk to her and make her realise that your belongings are important and she needs to treat things respectfully if she wants to keep her job. You need to give her a chance.