SINGAPORE:

A local employer has taken to social media to discuss troubling behavior exhibited by her maid, revealing a string of boundary-pushing requests that have left her feeling conflicted about maintaining the employment arrangement.

In a post shared on the r/askSingapore subreddit, the employer elaborated on the original agreement made with her maid, which consisted of two Sundays and two weekdays off each month from 9 am to 7 pm. This initially organized plan provided for a structured schedule, but complications began almost immediately into the maid's employment, which began only a month ago.

The maid's seemingly innocent requests for earlier days off evolved quickly. After the employer approved an earlier 6 am start for her day off, the maid began requesting to take every Sunday off instead of just two per month, a request that was again granted. However, the situation escalated when the maid asked to extend her return home progressively later, from 9 pm to 11 pm, ultimately demanding to stay out until morning, which the employer wisely declined due to safety concerns.

Things took a turn for the worse when, after claiming she would return home by 3 am, the maid actually arrived at 5:30 am, explaining that she had spent the night at a friend's house and returned home in a drunken state. This unexpected revelation raised alarms for the employer, who became increasingly uneasy about the implications of the maid's behavior during her time off.

Posting her dilemma online, the employer asked for guidance about whether she should terminate the maid’s employment. "What if this behavior continues? Should I go ahead and replace her? It’s just the first month, but I don't want to end up paying agency fees if things don’t improve," she expressed to concerned users.

Responses in the comments section favored hiring a new maid, with several users cautioning that this could be a sign of future problems. "In my family's past experience with maids, every time a maid shows signs of poor behavior early on, it only gets worse. Replace her," one commenter advised. Others echoed similar sentiments, emphasizing the importance of trust and stability in the household, notably stating, "If she’s pushing boundaries this far already, the situation will likely escalate."

On the flip side, a minority came to the maid’s defense, arguing for her right to personal freedom during her time off as long as her work was being completed diligently. One user provocatively questioned the employer's authority, saying, "Are you her guardian? As long as she fulfills her work hours, her day off is her time."

This incident has sparked a fascinating dialogue concerning the expectations placed upon domestic workers in Singapore. According to the Ministry of Manpower (MoM), domestic helpers are entitled to at least one designated rest day per week without the option of monetary compensation for missed days. Furthermore, a full day off for these workers should encompass at least eight hours of uninterrupted rest.

As the issue unfolds, it raises broader questions about the cultural perceptions of domestic help, personal agency, and the codependency between employers and maids. Will this employer take the plunge and replace her maid, or will she decide to overlook these initial infractions in hopes of a smoother path forward? Only time will tell.