Exhausted
This week I have had 4 helpers tell me that they plan to resign their posts. None of them have been at their job for more than 1 year. Three of them said the reason is "they are exhausted" and can feel their health beginning to run down. One of them is emotionally exhausted because the madam and po po criticize her work on a daily basis but in the almost one year she has worked for them she has NOT received one word of praise or encouragement. I mentioned this to one of our Arrow staff and she remarked "well this is HK Chinese culture".
At Arrow our goal for customers is to help them "find and keep a good helper", but some of our customers ignore our advice on managing workers from a Filipino cultural background, and the result is resignation. When given the choice of "my way or the highway" the helper almost always chooses "the highway" because she can't imagine being able to finish a contract under conditions where she does not receive enough rest or encouragement.
The average person needs 7-8 hours of sleep per night. Adult workers also need some personal and leisure time to bathe, care for their things, read the news, catch up with friends and family via Facebook, etc. Sometimes employers say "she's off work at 10 and starts work at 6 a.m. That's 8 hours for sleep." So no time for bathing, doing her beauty routine, checking in with her kids or significant other? No reading the news or checking in with friends on FB?
I know your house is busy, but as an employer - it is your job to manage the time and make sure your employees have reasonable rest time.
Another customer almost lost her helper of 6 years because they were arguing over the time she should be home on her day off. From 0-6 y.o. this woman has cared and helped raise the kids and there was a real possibility that she wouldn't renew over being late 15-30 minutes on her day off. Fortunately the employer decided to trust her and relax about the curfew and the relationship is intact and strong.
A little consideration will help you keep a good employee.
