SINGAPORE: A recent post on the r/askSingapore subreddit has sparked heated discussion as an employer reveals alarming behavior from her maid, just one month into her employment.

The employer reached out for advice after noticing her maid pushing the boundaries of their agreed-upon work schedule in unforeseen ways.

Initially, the maid was to receive two Sundays and two weekdays off each month, with her time off granted from 9 am to 7 pm—a typical arrangement designed to ensure both parties are content.

However, things took a drastic turn when the maid began requesting further alterations to this schedule.

It all began with a seemingly innocent request to start her day off earlier at 6 am, which the employer obliged.

Soon after, the maid wanted every Sunday off, an appeal that also received approval.

But the requests didn't stop there; she subsequently sought permission to extend her late-night return, asking initially to come back at 9 pm, then at 11 pm, and finally suggesting a full night out, a request that was flatly declined due to security concerns.

Alarmingly, the employer noted that the maid has a husband, but her interactions with a mysterious male caller raised red flags.

Things escalated when the employer was met with blatant evasiveness regarding her return time.

Despite assuring that she would be back by 3 am, the maid returned home much later, clocking in at about 5:30 am.

According to the employer, the maid was intoxicated and had spent the night at a friend's house with other girls, conveniently neglecting to inform her employer of her whereabouts.

Now faced with a moral quandary, the employer seeks community input on whether to keep the maid, especially given that her agency only allows free replacements within the first three months of employment.

“What should I do?” she pleaded. “Should I go ahead and replace her? It’s her first month, so I am torn between giving her a chance and being afraid that if I don't act soon, I’ll be stuck with her behavior—and the agency fees—for another two months.”

The outpouring of advice from the community was overwhelmingly in favor of replacing the maid immediately.

Users pointed out that ignoring such early warning signs could lead to even more severe issues down the line.

One commenter emphasized the downside of leaving a problematic employee in a home environment: “If she’s already pushing boundaries within the first month, trust me, it’ll just escalate.”

Interestingly, there were some voices in the discussion that stood by the maid's right to enjoy her days off.

“She’s an adult; as long as she’s completing her work, why should you care where she sleeps on her time off?” questioned one user.

Another added to this sentiment, suggesting that needing only one day off per week might be unreasonable when many workplaces grant two.

In Singapore, domestic helpers are legally entitled to at least one rest day weekly, as stipulated by the Ministry of Manpower.

These regulations ensure that the maid receives appropriate breaks, demanding a minimum of eight consecutive hours of uninterrupted rest.

As this story unfolds, it provokes a larger conversation about the evolving employer-employee dynamics—especially within domestic work—an issue that many in Singapore are beginning to face.

What will the employer decide? Will she replace her maid or allow her another chance? Stay tuned for updates!