What kind of relationship should an employer have with a domestic worker? A Hong Kong columnist surnamed Pang who writes on parenting issues shared her recent experience on Ming Pao Daily, and said mutual understanding could improve the relationship, especially when your maid gets sick.
A Filipino domestic worker named Ate, who is a Muslim, had been working for Pang’s family for less than a year. Before coming to Hong Kong, she worked for a big Indian family who lived in a 5,000-square-f00t (465-square-meter) house in Malaysia.
Recently, members of Pang’s family got sick one after another because of an influenza outbreak. Her son became so seriously ill that he needed to be admitted to hospital.
At this point, Ate finally recognized the seriousness of the flu virus and agreed to listen to Pang’s advice. She abandoned her traditional “secret” herbal tea, went to a doctor and and took modern medication.
Pang said that when her son was released from the hospital, she found that Ate had been confining herself in her room, as the doctor had ordered her not to spread the virus around, so she did not dare to go into the kitchen and prepare any food for herself because she did not want to see her employers get sick again.
Pang then realized that Ate had only had fruits and bread to eat over the past few days while she and her husband were staying in the hospital to take care of their son. Upon this realization, Pang decided to prepare dinner for her.
Ate was touched and cried when she saw Pang had cooked for her.
Working far away from home and family, when a domestic worker gets sick, the only comfort she gets is from phone calls from home. If her own children get sick, there is no way she can take care of them, not even give them a hug.
Pang advised employers to show empathy for their domestic workers. When they get sick, ask them to rest properly, or prepare food for them. In that way, the employer-employee relationship will improve.
Woooow! Nakaka, touched naman. Hoping, lahat ng employer katulad ng Pang’s family. GOD BLESS your heart Maam.
Absolutely this good employer
Thnx madam for being a good employer…i hope other employers will follow what u have done….mostly really dont care…my boss is one of them…
Good employer, have concerned and consideration to her househelper health condition.. May have more employer like Mr. &Mrs. Pang..
I salute you Madam Pang for being very understanding to the situation and your kindness is very much appreciated. I worked for my bosses for 33 yrs and they are kind and lovable people like you do. How I wish that more employer do the same so that harmony will be always between employer and employee.
Such a kind hearted employer. Thank you ma’am.
Libra de Chinita sis true
Your good employer..hope many of you have a good heart to us…your maid
She’s very kind employer,very understanding,working w empliyer like her,was a indeed blessing
How I wish all employers will be like that…Some employers are very generous and kind to their helpers and some are not…
After my daily routine , vacuuming., mopping, dusting, washing clothes, tidying, I also wanted to sit down and rest ,I was embarrassed when she said" che che No sit down La, find your work"
How I wish she would say,"Che che you can take a rest once you finished your work….Helpers need a rest…
My employer is talking to me about how i am in their house. They asking me if i feel unhappy just tell to them.
Biktima na ako nito sobra sobra pa…naloko na nga ako… ako pa ang sirang sira sa mga tao na kesyo ako may atraso..Pero cge lang hindi natutulog ang Diyos…
Thats how our employer do when one of the helper sick madamprepare food for us too…
No harm in hoping…
Super relate ako dyn kc mga boss ko gnyn cl nkbait at pno nl ko algaan..
After Ng 3 years k sa amo at nag break ako,saka nila natutunan Kung paano pahalagahan ang isang tao…now pinabalik ulit ako at natutu na,now masaya kmi parang isang pamilya…
God bless you sir…for you know the feelings of being away from home…wish all employers will do the same
Since I came to HK for work, I thank God that I did have a very good employers that really treated me as their family members up to now with my current employer , I get treated well as one member of the family. And I pay back with honesty and dedication to what ever job they asked me to do. So I think that’s how good relationship begins to a servant and master. Understanding each others needs is very important.
It happened to me when I got chickenpox, jailed in my room for almost 2 weeks..
Recently I had a pain on my left foot, a gout attack the doctor said. I can barely walk and my madam saw me when she came out from her room. She helped me then to put the dirty clothes to the washing machine and even helped me sweep the floor. She’s hands on when the need arises. God bless her more and her family… I’m so blessed by what she did!