Helper bank account

Helper bank account

Posted by Todge


Hi:

I'm wanting to set up a savings account for our helper. We bank with HSBC and Citibank, but are there any other suggestions on banks that maybe have DH accounts (if they exist?), or just regular savings accounts that don't have any nasty charges.


Our helper has said she's happy to go with any bank, but suggested Hang Seng (she previously had an account with them).


Thanks in advance.



Posted by Mighty

If you dont want to be charged with any bank charges, you can open an ordinary savings account that only has ATM service. I.E. she cannot use the counter service. Both HSBC and Hang Seng should have the same service but my helper opened one with HSBC.



Posted by Todge

k thanks.



Posted by highdesertnow

There are also a couple of big reputable Phil banks that offer this service like Metrobank or PNB.



Posted by love

its called "easy savings" -the one mighty was talking about in HSBC bank.



Posted by hoyo

todge, if i were you, i wouldn't bother. I would let her open her own account in any bank she wants, don't get too personal with her, that's not your business, it's hers, she's not your firend, she has a working contract with you, that's all, making her feel part of your family would not help in anyway her feeling/attitude to you, on the contrary most of the times she will take as your sense of weakness, your strong reliance on her. And if she's philippina, she knows more than what you think and maybe more than you do.



Posted by Todge

I understand and agree with you Hoyo. I probably should have explained myself better from the outset, I'm not going to set up the bank account for her, just wanted to know which banks were best for her to approach. And if she's with hsbc it doesn't cost us to transfer the funds. Now I know HSBC does have a suitable account, I'll ask her to set up an account with them. It's basically to make my life easier. If she withdraws the total amount every month that's up to her. I just don't want the hassle of having to get a couple of thousand dollars out of the atm every month - not when I'm online most fo the day and can easily transfer the funds (or have them automatically transferred).



Posted by Mighty

Hi Hoyo, hope you will come back to this thread and read this. Your reply gave me a message that you have a strong feeling that you do not want to be 'too friendly' with your helper. I am not against yours and on the contrary, I agree to what you said and I think most of the employers here are 'mistakely' (especially westerners) treating their helpers as their family members and that is the part that I cant understand nor agree to. If you have time, cld you tell me your point in more details. I wld love to hear that.



Posted by Todge

For me Mighty, the relationship is simple. It's the same as I have with any other employees that are in my charge. Professional courtesy, fair but firm and treat her with respect.



Posted by hoyo

mighty, yes you're rught, westerners, when they come to Asia, suddenly have a different life style than the one they know back intheir country. There, they have to do all the househoold things themselves, sometimes they have part time maids. So when they come here, because of their new life style, ie, having a live-in maid, they tend to treat their domestic helper too nicely, up to the point to treat them as a member of their family, ie taking them to restaurant, travelling, hotel, in the way pampering them, believing that the nicer you are with them, the better the maids will behave etc...that's quite a natural attitude specially if you're not used to dealing with them. But in reality, the nicer you are, the worse they become, they will take more advantage of your generosity. I don't mean it only applies to the Philippina domestic helpers, it applies to all! Why? because once you are too nice, therefore lenient and familiar with them, they tend to take it easier knowing if for example they make a mistake, you would forgive and give them another chance etc... and in the long run, efficiency woould go down. I don't mean you have to treat them bad, no not all, but to go all the way to show how much you cherish their service, no, that would be too much. Based on my experience, at the end, it is always money that they want. Money will replace everything, so if you want to show your appreciation, just give them money once in a while. I know it's not easy to dissociate them form the family, after all, they live in and know all your personal life, that's true that is why we need to keep some distance with them.



Posted by Mighty

Dear Hoyo

Tks for yr long reply. Gottha. Also one thing in common amogst them - they never tell you when they break your household things!

Hoyo is definetly right. Familiarity breeds contempt with some maids. Ours breaks stuff and never fesses up.

This is a funny thread. But do you guys let yr helper wash your underwear? Better do it yourself.

HOYO..your reply is exactly the way I feel too. DARLING, seems like you are a DH? Maybe you should read the thread properly. No one has mentioned illtreating their DH's. In fact on the contrary. Its plain business is what people say here.

I dont go to work & expect to be treated as family by my Bosses either. We have a good relationship as collegues. Its as simple as that!

Being nice to your helper is not a crime..if some employer treat their helper as member of their family, they're nice people and those who don't, what do you think who are you? i'd rather treat my helper as part of my family rather than maltreat my kids while i'm away to work...some people (employer)has individual character..i beleive in "KARMA"...

Being good to your helper & having a professional relationship with her but not treating her as ' family' is good "KARMA" too!

I have a family and have a helper to do her job in our family. I dont pay my family. I do pay my helper. We have a good relationship but my relationship with my family is VERY different.

By reading all the messages posted here i can tell each one's attitude..some good some bad..i'ts so shame!!!

:-)

So basically, according to your hateful replies to me in the other thread...I should be a friend & family to my DH! Why bother letting her work in my house at all huh? You are a strange one!

They don't tell you when they break something because they are afraid you will make them pay for it. I break stuff all the time so I don't expect my Helper to be perfect. But anyway, mine always tells me when she breaks stuff because she knows that I will not be mad so I don't get unexpected surprises. So what if "Westerners" want to treat their helpers well. I do and I have no trouble with efficiency or anything - I really think you are jealous that westerners do treat them well because all your reasonings are just a load of rubbish. And by the way my parents used to pay me to do certain chores so I really don't see what the point is about them being paid or not. I really feel sorry for you and your helpers.

Spare rib, don't get mad..i'm jst want you to know that helpers need respect and love as well.is because they're just an helper then you just treat them like a rug?look your helper help you alot o things that you can't do inside your house etc.so i think helpers need to show them a little bit affection..

you and me have different way to treat helpers..i'll tell my helper is a really good ,honest,and very loving to my kids..you know why because i treated her like a part of my family and a friend..beleived me if you do good thing to other people you get more bless, double or hundred times than you gave to your helper..

Have I written anywhere that I treat my DH like a slave...as I keep getting advised by you to treat her ' Well'.

I treat my DH like a person, an adult & very ' well' and I dont do it to get blessed 100 times more or for Karma's. I do it as that is the way I would want to be treated too!

My DH is excellent with my kid, in fact I could not have gotten a better one! She has all the qualities of your DH & I am sure much more! She So why exactly am I being given lessons on respect & love for my DH?

Oh dont bother replying...it will be more about how to be good....

Hey don't get mad.i'm not lecturing you.i'm just saying that being nice to a helper or treat them as part of the family is not big deal..but for you is a big deal..i didn't say that you treated your Dh as a slave..you said that..not me...


Word of the day - be nice to people

- If some people give affection to their pets,how much more to a person..

:-)

I can not believe it but I read the entire thread! What exactly is your point? Group hugs every hour and being nice to people is not always the way forward. Being unreasonable is equally bad. That said, there is a need for balance. Get a life or should I say a new contract!

Seriously: you and i and some other people here are have different attitude..you are one of those people that no hearts..(helper,poor,no education etc.)