Opinions please - don't attack

We bought insurance for our helper and also pay for the extra OWWA our helper requested for her peace of mind. Lately, she has itchy feet because of the cold weather & went to see her own doctor, felt better and wanted to repeat another visit to make sure. The 2 times caused her $420.- which is really not a lot but I don't think our insurance for her covers that. Anyway, I paid her the amount.


Now, would YOU as her employer needs to pay for that and some other similar cases (like itchy hand)as it's not sickness.

No, I would not pay HER doctor. There are family doctors everywhere in HK. A family doctor can treat most of the "simple" cases for HK$150-200 per visit and your insurance will cover it. If there is a severe problem your family doctor will refer the helper to a specialist. Again, it could be a private (expensive) or government (cheap) specialist. It is up to YOU to decide where your helper will go. Start with a family doctor.


My helper tried to do the same to me. She has a pain in her wrist. I took her to my family doctor. My whole family, including baby and toddler visit him. The doctor said that her tendon is a bit inflamed and prescribed tablets and cream. She said she does not want to take medications and wants to see a Chinese herbalist. I told her that she could do so and pay her own bill as I personally do not believe in herbs, never use them myself, and her insurance will not cover such kind of doctor.


To cut it short, as an employer you do have a responsibility for your helper's medical treatment. It is also you who decides on how much money you'll pay for it.


Cheers

focusing on the specific question being asked, i.e., whether employers are legally required to pay for cases like itchy feet or hands, my guess is no as it hardly to be characterized as illness or injury as mentioned in the relevant rules. but FKKC if you want to make sure you may want to give the labor department a call?


assuming it's not illness within the meaning of the relevant rules, whether an employer would want to VOLUNTARILY pay for that is another question. there are reasons why you want (to avoid interference with job performance; just to help the helper out, etc., etc.) and also why you don't (medical treatment may not be necessary; worried about what's next, etc. etc.). all depends on your relationship with your helper, your knowledge of her personality and your financial situation.

Thanks for all your input. I don't want to sound stingy and I was always generous to my helper in all the years she has worked for me and our relationship is fine and as I said $420 is not much but the funny feeling I've got is - if I was the one to have this itchy feet or hand, I would have gone to Mannings or Watsons to buy cream across the counter whereas my helper without even trying just went to her doctor. When she came home I asked her about her feet and she said it's better and when I wanted to re-imburse her(willingly on my part) the $220, she matter-of-factly said " Oh, I still have to go a second time to make sure and I'll give you the receipts for the 2 visits together" which caused me a further $200, totalling to $420. The money wasn't the main issue, it was the 2nd visit which I don't think was necessary and I know I would have felt awful if I stopped her and create some unpleasantness and now I felt funny that I have to pay for something (how matter how small the amount) that is not reasonable or necessary. It's past tense and over and done with!!!


My aim in creating this thread was just wondering what other employers would have done if they encounter such cases. It's just a fun request for personal answers - nothing serious. Would you have asked her not to go for the 2nd visit or just pay for her 1st visit even if she still wants to go ahead or just pay for the 2 visits to please her or just pay everything to prevent uncomfortable feelings.

hi

my husband's company provides us insurance, which means we gets partial subsidies for some doctors visits, as long as they are under the company umbrella.


if i wanted to see say, lucy lord, i would have to pay for the visit myself, since she is not one of the doctors under the insurance umbrella. there are other oby/gyns, though, if i want to get a PAID FOR visit.


my situation is not so different than your helper's. i would tell her that if she would like the visits to be reimbursed, then she needs to be visiting this dr. you have no problems with her seeking medical attention, but it needs to be with these certain drs.

Ours is the same, we can only go to certain Doctors, so I agree, you can state with your helper which drs you want her to use.

FKKC


I am sure i would have behaved exactly as you did, and then been very annoyed with myself, and like you not because of the money. The expectation that I would pay the bills is what would have irritated me initially. I would then have been annoyed further when considering that I wouldn't have sought the same treatment for myself ie. IF I felt that it warranted medical attention i would definitely have seen a doctor covered by the insurance, or (more likely) attended a government clinic.


I agree completely with abitnaive's opinion that if she wants to see someone outside of the scheme it is out of (her) pocket. I know that you have paid it and don't want to cause bad feelings, still I think it makes sense to tell/remind her that only certain doctors are covered by the insurance and that you expect her to use them so that you don't have a repeat incident.

lss825,


Thanks for the understanding and glad you feel the same way as I don't want to sound mean or stingy- you put it very nicely!

Actually, I used to pay all medical expenses, even extra (my helper's wants her own doctor as she says she feels more confident) not within the insurance coverage throughout all the years she has worked for me and I really don't mind as long as they are necessary. Only this time I felt funny but I'm OK now.