How much would it cost you if your domestic worker had a cup of coffee once in a while? Bella Yip, a Hong Kong columnist who writes for Sky Post on beauty issues, said she was puzzled when she heard an employer complain to friends in a restaurant that she was unhappy because she had spent around HK$5,000 (US$635) on coffee that her domestic worker had consumed during her employment, thinking the maid did not deserve having that much money spent on her.
But the maid in question had been working for that employer for 10 years.
Yip said she was not surprised that some people in Hong Kong with this kind of mentality – some people are mean, they are ungenerous, and they count every single cent they spend on other people, whether a domestic worker, a colleague or even a family member.
But Yip said she believed that if only you are nice to others, then most people will be nice to you in return.
Your domestic worker is the one who takes care of your children, keeps your house clean and tidies when you are busy at work, so she deserves to be treated well.
If a couple of bucks spent on coffee could make them feel good and full of energy, why does the employer need to be so stingy?
To give is always better than to take – it’s the win-win situation of a mutual relationship.
Yip advised employers not to expect domestic workers to treat them well unless they evaluate themselves to see whether they are generous enough to their maids.
OMG can’t hold my tears after reading this..I myself experience this and its really stressful everyday doing my work patiently even if I feel I have no energy anymore and at the end of the day my ex employer accuse me of nonsense thing getting things out during my day off(rice,oil,tissue etc.) To bring it in our church what a worst experience ever ..Even if we maids are kind,patience and u treated us inhuman.. our patience will end up and that’s the time that we force to argue with our employers.
Employer is calculating her expenses in maid coffee, how about the food allowance have u calculated it, have u seen that your maid haven’t use all that money concerning with food allowance every month, total all the food allwance per year minus ur expenses in coffee and food u gave to ur helper, still ur maid can get more cash bec iknow he never consumed all the money in food allowance. Why there are some employer are so selfish? You must learn the golden rule! Do not do unto other’s what u would not like do unto u.
They bring you to the restaurant they order food for sharing and they will look at every bite you take. ???????????? I think its in their root to be ungenerous because most of them are, only some westernized chinese are the exception.
its the law of nature, When you treat someone good then whether its your maid, its your parents, kids or neighbors, they will treat you the same. Good karma is real.
Exactly! I agree with the smart writter. This article is very true in the heart.
yes its true….based on my experienced….????
Very well said!.treat your helper well and u will see how she treat u and your fam back????
Well said
I salute you miss Yip you’re Bias. God bless you.
The more u give the more u received..remember when u die u cannt bring ur money to your grave.
True . their living room and dining is just my room, mine is even bigger. Akala naman nila poor tayo.
very true.
Absolutely true… Employers should treat thier employees good…
GOOD employee so lucky your helpers
correct
What’s a cup of coffee? Probably were not used to drink coffee if we have sufficient foods to eat. Maybe she want to get a helper for free. She need to read the employment contract well before she hired a helper. So mean.
Most of the employers are “madamot “ stingy. Better give to your maid or helpers their food allowance so that you dont have the problem to give their food. Or don’t hire a helpers if you don’t trust it. Better keep your 4,410 and you do the house work and take care you own kids,that’s it.
As the saying goes by:
It is better to give than to receive
Madam you said it right. ..
The agreement in the contract ie:
Either food allowance or Free food. If she choose the food allowance the employer had the right to complain about that coffee…but if she choose FREE food.then it should be all free.if you threat ur helper well I guarantee you she will returned in a million times…and remember God is watching us for our good deeds.and all the time.
I can’t understand people who are stingy specially employers why not give enough food to your helper who sacrifice a lot for your children besides there is a specific food amount stated in the contract if you can’t follow the rules and regulations then don’t employ a helper so you will know how hard their work is.Employers are expect their helper a good and perfect work but they don’t treat their helper well where’s your sense
I hope this news will be air on hongkong television news or they will make this as an advertisement on tv and every minute they will air it