Why FDH no need to go through a probation period !

[juergenw]

Dear Readers,

last year after six years our helper from Philippines did not re-new her contract. That was fine with us, but surely we wanted too keep her. But she wanted to go home.

Now more than a year after that we have the 3rd helper in our home, it seems they are all cheating in the so-called profiles. For example the say cooking "good" - once they started they can just cook 3-4 dishes - thats it. Everything else seems we are asking them to be a kind of Jamie Oliver.

In the personal interview they try as much as possible to give a "good impression". But once in your home many things are very different suddenly.
Self initiative ? Completely lacking. Yes Maaaam, yes Siiiiiir - thats the main response. It seems if we dont tell them what to do they just dont do it - even it is a repeat of a repeat daily routine like setting up the table for dinner etc - very simple things !
If everything routine must be told to the helper again & again & again - is this really a helper ?

Why do people hire a FDH ? To make the life easier & not more complicated. We for example want to integrate the helper as much as possible into our family - they eat with us & eat the same as we do etc.

The contract content of the FDH contracts must be changed urgently:
Helpers need to have a probation period as every normal HKG employee also have - 3 months.

Helpers are totally protected by the HKG labour law - who is protecting the employer ?
I will contact relevant Government departments to discuss a change on that policy.

[pin]

Hmm, not sure about your last paragraph.

[Gruntfuttock]

You may terminate the employee at 1 month's notice any time. What are you looking for in a probation period? Instant dismissal without notice?

[dipstick]

" it seems they are all cheating in the so-called profiles. For example the say cooking "good" - once they started they can just cook 3-4 dishes - thats it.

In the personal interview they try as much as possible to give a "good impression". But once in your home many things are very different suddenly."

Sounds like the typical application form and interview for any employee. If I heard that a manager had a bad employee well that is not that rare. Two employees in a row is bad luck. More than two and I would start to question the abilities of the manager.

[wtbhotia]

for us the interviewing was a full on try out, cleaning the house, cooking dinner, interacting with the dogs to see if they can handle them, we did pay them for the try out. To me this was better then just asking them question and letting them answer

[juergenw]

To pin: Regarding the last paragraph - the first helper we hired last year from Singapore (Filippina) with what we found out later "denied entry to Singapore" for 2 years (after we got her passport copy - means she was terminated in Singapore which the HK agency did surely not tell us).
She was that super stupid that we feared the safety of our son & fired her after 5 weeks - she signed a mutual agreement that she only receives half of her payment lieu in notice. She first extended her visa, then she went to the Labour Department to sue us for the balance of her month salary. Surely she WON - any of her several signatures on the mutual agreement, the final payment receipt did not count. This was by the way not about the money - this was about that we did not get what we have paid for. We also complained at the CONSUMER COUNCIL on that case against the agency - no use - waste of time. The agency surely totally rejected any wrong - doing in supporting such a complete "helpless / useless helper".

[juergenw]

To DeletedUser: Doesnt matter how inept the interviewer is or not.
There are too many loopholes in Immigration & Labour Law for the FDH.

[juergenw]

To dipstick: Thanks your advice - so I fire myself now ?

[jimbo]

To DeletedUser: Doesnt matter how inept the interviewer is or not.
There are too many loopholes in Immigration & Labour Law for the FDH.

Did you even try to contact the previous employer for a reference?

[virago]

Sounds like you have an issue guiding and giving orders/directions.

Besides that is you want your FDH to be a valuable member you still need to work with them! Like any employee they need training and development.

Send her to cooking school or English lessons of needed. But yes it will cost you money but hey, it's cheap labour anyway........