Summary

A Singaporean employer shares her concerns about her domestic helper's behavior in a social media post, detailing incidents of rule-breaking and reliability issues.

Background Context

The employer, having employed the helper for 1.5 years, initially found her satisfactory, particularly with their young child. However, issues arose that raised alarms.

Incidents of Rule-Breaking

The employer monitored the helper through home surveillance and found that she had left the house without permission on three occasions. This revelation alarmed the employer, resulting in a loss of trust.

Additional Disregard for Household Guidelines

The helper also disregarded explicit household rules by ordering personal parcels to the employer's home and inviting friends over without consent, further undermining trust.

Changing Contact Information

Another concern was the helper changing her phone number three times during her employment, which unsettled the employer.

Employer's Frustration

Despite supporting the helper through various means, the employer felt torn between giving her another chance or terminating her contract due to conflicting behavior.

Responses from the Online Community

Responses varied, with some condemning the helper's actions as a betrayal of trust, while others defended her right to freedom and argued that changing numbers might not signify guilt.

Advice on Addressing the Issues

Commenters suggested fostering communication with the helper to clarify misunderstandings. They emphasized the importance of dialogue for resolving conflicts.

Official Recommendations

The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) advises starting with open communication if problems arise. Resources are also available from employment agencies and mediation organizations.

Conclusion

This case highlights broader issues of trust, communication, and boundaries in domestic employment, posing the question of how to handle conflicts in this context.