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Ask Andreas: What do you think about maid playdates?

Ask Andreas: My maid Wants a Payrise
Family LifePost Category - Family LifeFamily Life - Post Category - Domestic HelpersDomestic Helpers
ExpertsPost Category - ExpertsExperts

I’m a full time working mum and my maid wants to hold ‘maid play dates’ in our home for the kids and maids to get together. I’m unsure, mainly due to security, as I don’t know who will be in my home! On the other hand, I want my maid to be happy and my children to socialise. Can you give any advice?

Maid playdates should be encouraged. Your children will be happy and your maid will be happy. Furthermore, this initiative means that your maid is happy to organise things on her own without you having to micromanage.

That being said, I understand your concern. It is natural to feel apprehensive about strangers in the home. But look at it this way; your maid already has access to your children and your home while you are away. If you trust her with that, trusting her with “strangers” in your home is maybe not such a big thing.

There is also certainly nothing wrong with laying down ground rules, and at least initially asking to meet the other maids. Our maid has been with us for years and we trust her implicitly. If we are away on vacation, she often invites her friends over for a barbecue. She always asks us first and we know that she would never invite anyone she doesn’t trust to be a responsible person. Make sure you know your maid, for this and other reasons.

One word of caution – many playdates (with maids or parents) mean that the kids are left to their own devices while the maids (or parents) chat and have coffee. If this format is ok with you, fine. If you want your children (and their possibly rambunctious new friends!) to be under more positive control, make sure you let the maid know.

Having a happy maid is all well and good but she is there to work, i.e. take care of the children. If you are really worried, a “surprise visit” by a friend who is “just passing by” during the playdate makes for an excellent control.

Read more from Andreas by picking up a copy of his indispensible guide, Hiring and Managing Domestic Help from our Sassy Sale shop in Hong Kong right here!

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