Helper and Pneumonia

Hi,


Just came back from 2 weeks holidays and as is already becoming a tradition, my helper is sick.


I went to USA with my 2 kids and my husband, left her at home with a to do list but not too long or complicated, and also keeping in mind the CNY holidays.


I literally arrived yesterday 10:00 am and by 12:00 pm she was giving me the sour look, which I tried pretty much to ignore, but this morning when I wanted some ice cubes there was zero, among other things, no fruits etc (I left $500)


Anyway when I questioned her face and why there was no food etc she told me she is sick, she said she went to Queen Mary Hospital on Tuesday, had some x-rays done and the doctor said she might have pneumonia.


My question is: when you go to public hospital they don’t tell you immediately what’s wrong with you? They just let you out? Should I send her back to the hospital? Can she stay at home with us (have 2 kids) ?


I am pretty much annoyed by all this, every time I travel is the same thing, I come back and the helper is sick, last time it was an UTI, I had to take 2 extra days off to take care of my kids since she was going to the hospital.


Don’t understand, she stayed at home, with hot water, heathers, food to eat, 100% paid salary yet I come back and 2 days before she gets sick and wants to rest, we were traveling 28 hours, I have to work and have to deal with her issues.


Thanks to advise.

How long has your helper been with you? How long has she worked in HK and how old is she?

She is 38 y/o been working for me 4 years and same period of time in HK since I brought her in directly from the Phillipines.

Can you be sure she was really sick? I know a lot of helpers in Db who when the 'boss is away' will do part time work elsewhere, some try to get part time on HK island so their boss won't find out, my own ex helper told me it is a common thing to do-- hence they don't get the work done in there proper legal place of employment.A lot of them even have the cheek to advertise themselves for 2/3 weeks work while boss is away. Plus quite a lot of them have friends/relatives staying while the boss is away, stocks in freezers go down, spare bedding gets used etc. When the boss returns and things are not quite right, then 'the sickness' excuse is used for the sympathy vote!

If you know your neighbours well, ask them what goes on in your place while you are away, has your helper been around during daytime hours when she should have been working. I started to leave a spare key with my neighbours, if they got no answer by knocking on the door, they could come in and check at various random times, they more than often didn't find my ex helper in my home when she said she was there to me, and also used the UTI or chest infection excuse, and because of patient confidentiality you wouldn't be able to verify that she has been to a hospital. They did say on the rare occassion they found my helper at home she was perfectly fine-not ill.


If you really think she has been sick, then send her for a medical, not all of them tell lies about sickness, but it is one of the traits of the manipulative ones.

Hi Susie1,


I'll check her this weekend, she has the sour look but didn't see her coughing, she says she has fever but I am not going to check her temperature.


My feeling is that she was out the whole CNY holidays, I tried to call her twice while I was gone 8:30 am and then 10:00 pm she did not answer but I did not think too much of it because it was CNY anyway, although I mentioned to her the following Monday when she answer the phone at 9:00 am.

I know she likes to wear mini-skirts and low cut shirts because I have seen her in the street couple of times but she never wears them at home so it is not my biz.


I was told this morning yhe weather was really nice during the long holiday, really don't know how she got the so called pneumonia, I guess as long as I don't see her coughing I will ignore her, really how come every time I come back I have to do the things so she can take care of herself?

If she was really ill, her cheeks would appear 'flushed' with a high temperature, she would certainly be coughing if she had an ordinary chest infection, and definately with pneumonia, plus she would have no appetite, was she prescribed antibiotics--seen any medication? I am sure if she really had any treatment she would have given you the bill, as employer you have to pay medical expenses.Did you see any bill for X-ray plus consultation or medication?

As you say you left money when you went away for food and there was none, how did she, being so ill manage to consume all that food? If a person is really ill they cannot eat properly, and feel sickly, let alone go out shopping to spend the cash you left.

Hi Susie1,


Well I came back from the office today at 2:00 pm, she had not clean the bathrooms, the kitchen was dirty, etc I asked her what did she do, if she took a nap or what was the deal she yelled at me that she was sick bla bla bla and that if she wanted she could take a sick leave then she resigned.


She says she wants to go back to the Philippines to take a rest so she will wait for me to find a replacement (2 months or so) and then will take 3 months holidays and comeback to work for me if I want her back.


I told her all her decisions are like this without any rationale, anyway, I told her I was going to respect her wishes.


Later I asked her all questions regarding the results of her tests she said the hospital might send them later, so I asked her how did she know she has pneumonia she said the doctor said she might have, so I asked her for her prescription which is: paracetamol, syrup for the cough and some granules for the mucus obviously not what the doctor will give to someone who has pneumonia.


When I explained to her that she doesn’t have any major illness otherwise she would have been given antibiotics then her mood totally changed, so she is all chirpy etc. and of course she took a nap in the afternoon while I cooked dinner, bathed the kids and fed them.


Tomorrow they have a birthday party invitation which I was planning to bringer her with me to AMC but I guess I am on my own since she needs to take a rest.


Feels so stupid doing the laundry, watching the kids etc when in fact I am the one that is sick, I got the strep throat while in USA, still on antibiotics and now with the jetlag feel worse but I guess I have to put up with her so she stays the 2 months she said she will.

If she says she wants to leave, then that is fair enough, start looking for a replacement straight away, but make your helper sign a letter in front of a witness stating she wants to leave, otherwise she may try to take you to the labour dept for unfair dismissal, due to redundancy, because she has been with you for over 4 yrs.

Maybe to cover youself arrange a medical, to confirm she is not ill, because you cannot fire her if she is ill, a thorough medical will cost arouond 1000 hkd in certain places I know of where they send the results to the employer.

If she has offered to stay for 2-3 months be carefull, she cold conjure up a lot of trouble, if she hopes to go back to her home country for a 3 month holiday, she probably has ideas of raising some kind of funds for herself before she goes.

If she is sick she needs to furnish her employer with a medical certificate stating the reason for the sick leave, the commencement date and the end date. Her word is not enough enough nor is a script for panadol and some anti-congestant, this is usually given to anyone to get rid of them when they turn up to the emergency department!

Yes, try to get her to sign a letter stating the date she wishes to leave, that way you won't be done for a month in lieu ect when she finally does leave.

Also what is happening with your two children whilst you are away at work and she is 'sick'? This may not be the best situation for them....neglect.....and it may be better to give her the boot and rely on local help whilst you get cracking and find some new help!

good point Lagrue, she should have been given a sick note, if she had seen a Doctor, plus she could even have bought Panadol or decongestant from any chemist or some supermarkets. If she is not really ill, and refusing to do work for the employer, taking naps while her employer does it all, then she is being plain lazy.

Her employer says she has been with her for 4yrs, well that is long enough for her to learn a few scams from other helpers, as she hopes to go back to her home country for a 3 month break, I think she is looking for a way to get the sack so she can claim for unfair dismissal.

Oh God, you have to take care of your own children ?that's horrible!

Oh God, what a bad terrible person you have hired, getting sick on the job? Not taking the job to serious , after all that big paycheck comes in every month?

Oh God, all of those benefits this particular type of ex-pat gets in Hong Kong, And all that good stuff.

I might try to apply for the job as a Domestic Helper ex-pat in Hong Kong, instead of a banker, the Job seams so rewarding, and your so close to your beloved employer, who always tries to make the working place a good and healthy place, for everyone, and all that greatness.


Play nice, be ware of the HK labor law's, treat these people as any other employees.


what would you do in HK for slave salary? You get what you pay for.

Peace.