SINGAPORE:

A restless employer recently turned to social media for advice after encountering alarming behavior from her new maid, who has allegedly "pushed boundaries" just a month into her employment.

On the r/askSingapore subreddit, the employer shared her concerns, noting that their initial agreement included two Sundays and two weekdays off each month, providing the maid with one scheduled day off per week from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. However, what started as a routine relationship quickly unraveled as the maid began altering her days off without much regard for the established agreement.

Initially, the maid asked to start her day off earlier, which the employer granted. It didn’t stop there; she proceeded to request Sundays off, which became a regular occurrence. But the situation escalated further when the maid started asking for increasingly late returns. First, she sought permission to return home by 9 p.m., later pushing it to 11 p.m., and even expressing a desire to stay out until morning, a request firmly denied by the employer due to safety concerns.

The situation took a turn for the worse when the maid returned home later than promised. Claiming to have stayed over at a friend’s house after a night out, she had allegedly returned home at 5:30 a.m. instead of the previously agreed 3 a.m. The story took an even more concerning twist when the employer found out the maid had been drinking and did not communicate her whereabouts.

In her desperate plea for insight, the employer asked, "What should I do next? My maid agency allows free replacements only within the first three months, and I’m caught between giving this person a chance or fearing the potential financial and emotional toll if her behavior continues."

Voices from the community chimed in, many recommending that she replace the maid immediately. "It only gets worse from here. Replace her!" one user advised, while others echoed similar sentiments, emphasizing that establishing boundaries is paramount to avoiding further complications.

Nevertheless, some defenders of the maid suggested that she deserves the freedom to enjoy her time off, asking, "Are you her parent? As long as she performs her duties, what right do you have over her during her personal hours?"

This incident raises broader questions about the rights and boundaries of domestic helpers in Singapore. The Ministry of Manpower mandates that helpers get at least one rest day each week, which cannot be compensated with money. Moreover, they should be granted a minimum of eight hours of uninterrupted rest.

With the ongoing cultural discourse surrounding domestic workers and their rights in Singapore, stories like this serve to highlight the delicate balance between employer expectations and employee autonomy.

Employers are reminded to be vigilant about maintaining boundaries while also respecting the personal lives of their hired help. As discussions continue on social media, the implications for domestic worker treatment are clearer than ever – it's essential to establish trust and respect from the very beginning to ensure a harmonious working relationship.

Stay tuned for more updates on this emerging story! What would you do in this situation?