Any Given Sunday
Here is a great article about HK Filipino culture and food, featuring some of our own JIFF/Arrow ladies, our Central team.
Here is a great article about HK Filipino culture and food, featuring some of our own JIFF/Arrow ladies, our Central team.
The power of a kind word
Snip from a facebook message
One of our Arrow employers called to ask me about an issue with their helper who has been with them for 1.5 years. During the conversation they told me that she was good helper and tney appreciated her service to their family. I used to facebook to contact the helper and ask a question for the employer. During our FB conversation I told her that her employer was grateful for her good service. Her response is in the screen clip to the right:
"I'm still crying Pastor because I never expect and surprised me that they say that I'm very good (word supplied). I'm very thankful and God is good po."
Filipino helpers are often starved for a word of encouragement. Hong Kong people don't praise a child once he past 3-5 years old. Once a kid hits school there is no more "lek jai, lek nui". 90% of the burden to adapt is on the Filipino helper, but the employer should also make an effort to adapt a little to meet the helper's needs. One of the biggest needs the helpers have is for a word of encouragement, some praise, a kind word once in a while. They would like to hear you say "that's delicious" or "I'm really grateful for you," or "good job". If you want to keep a helper long term, learn to give some affirming feedback. They will strive with all their heart to please you if you give them some encouragement.
The chaos of parenting
Most of our customers are having their first kid and hiring their first helper. This video is dedicated to you. Welcome to parenthood.
howdoesshe.com guide to
Found this good 5 step approach to cleaning a room. Great for kids, but could be helpful for training a new helper too.
20 Ways to Fall In Love All Over Again
20 Ways to Fall In Love All Over Again http://flip.it/SFIQ1
Does your helper know what to do in an emergency?
Melanie from Helpwise.com.hk has some wise advice on getting your helper prepared to deal with emergencies.
Want healthy kids? Let them play outside and get dirty
This controversial parenting theory about health and cleanliness will make you question your childhood http://flip.it/iFQaG
Are you a "nag"?
I read this insightful "self examination" by a woman who realized she was abusing her husband with all of her nagging. Employers (usually female employers) sometimes treat their helpers the same way. It makes everyone's life miserable. Have a read, and leave a comment. Click HERE to read it now.
26 new applicants
26 new applicants showed up for our 1 week long orientation today. We'll be posting their bios in the next few days. Stayed tuned.
My helper wants to go home to the Philippines. What should I do?
Recently we've had several employers call us to say "my helper didn't come back after Christmas." In one case the helper had only been here for one month. Helpers come with the understanding that the contract is 2 years and that they may be required to complete the 2 years before having a long break back in the Philippines. What should you do if your helper asks to go back to the Philippines before she is eligible for annual leave or before she has finished her contract? Here are some suggested replies or actions :
You're Kidding? Right?
- "Are you kidding? You've been here ___ months and you want a vacation already?"
- "I'm sorry. We can't afford to have to you gone just now."
- "Sorry, No."
- "You're really funny. I thought you were serious. Good joke."
Seriously, if your helper asks for time off and she is not due for annual leave or finishing her contract do the following:
Do's
- Listen Objectively: Don't pay attention to tears or distraught emotions. Ask questions and try your best to find out the facts. E.G. your helper says, "my father is sick." Tell her "I'm so sorry to hear this. What is his name? What hospital is he in?" Be compassionate, but keep your objectivity, and get the facts.
- Call Arrow: We can put a Tagalog speaker on the line with your helper and do our best to find out the situation. If she is upset, then it will be important for her to express herself in her own language. We'll ask questions and through our agency in the Philippines we'll try to verify her story and see what help we can give the family.
- Ask for Philippine phone #s and contact information so we can contact the family in case the helper is delayed coming back.
- Have a back up plan. If your helper doesn't come back on time or doesn't come back at all, what will you do? Do you have relatives to fill in while you wait for a new helper? How will you handle this?
Send your helper to Tagumpay: If the helper is dealing with homesickness, then the best solutions are Arrow's Tagumpay classes and a regular day off. It amazes me sometimes when an employer who denies their helper a day off - is then surprised that she disappears the first time she goes back to the Philippines. They deprive her of everything Filipino: (food, language and friends that she experiences on her day off) and then are surprised that she didn't finish the contract. Really? If you helper is homesick, don't send her home, send her to Tagumpay and church on Saturday or Sunday.
Don'ts
- Don't believe everything you hear. We have heard stories of fathers and grandfathers passing away, so we call the family in the Philippines and the "deceased" family member answers the phone. We had one helper who told her employer that her grandmother passed away, but the employer remember that the helper had already used this excuse for an earlier trip home.
- Don't pay for the air ticket. If an employee is taking vacation or personal time off then they should buy their own air ticket.
- Don't pay salary in advance, but rather withhold some salary in case they don't return. If your helper has been with a long time and earned your trust, then giving advances and help in emergencies is a good thing to do, but when the helper has been here a short time only, we recommend against it.
- Don't Panic. If the helper doesn't return on time, let us call her family to find out why? If there was a typhoon or just "bad planning"- it only takes a phone call to get the facts. Once you have the facts you can decide what to do.
Always call Arrow. You've paid for our service. Use it. 2151-1125.
If you helper doesn't come back, we'll do our best to help you find a goo
Breakfast for helpers
Growing up in the US our breakfast consisted of cereal and milk, bacon and eggs and toast. The slogan on the Wheaties box said "breakfast of Champions". Last night some newly arrived helpers stayed at my house. This morning I found this on the table. They were planning on eating crackers for breakfast and I'm afraid that is what they ate last night for dinner. We made scrambled eggs and toast.
Feed your helper well. Do you want a smart helper? Feed her well. Brain cells need protein and a good supply of calories to function properly. Housework is hard work. Take care of your helper and she will take good care of you and your family.
It's time to say "Thank you!"
"In everything give thanks"
Recent research affirms what we all know to be true "grateful people are happier, less depressed, less stressed and more satisfied with their lives and social relationships." (Wikipedia) We would all be more happy and healthy if we imitated Pollyanna.
Pollyanna is the young heroine of a famous children's book, Pollyanna by Eleanor Porter. When her mother dies Pollyanna is sent to live with her wealthy, but sour aunt. Pollyanna has developed a philosophy of life that focuses on gratitude and staying positive. She always plays what she calls "The Glad Game." The glad game is simple: find something to be glad about in whatever situation you face. One Christmas when her parents were still alive, the local church allowed the family to choose a present from the missionary barrel. Pollyanna was hoping for a doll, but the barrel held only a pair of crutches. Her father made up the glad game and they decided they could be glad, because they didn't need the crutches. Pollyanna developed a habit of gratitude that not only helped her but changed those around her.
I am grateful to God for all the wonderful customers and friends he has given us over the years. I'm grateful for the helpers we have helped find work and for the positive changes we've seen in the lives of many of them. I'm grateful for our Arrow team, who everyday serve with heart and mind. Our office is a cross-cultural mix of Americans, Hong Kong Chinese and Filipinos. We have learned so much from each other. It is a privilege to go to work with this team. Sometimes it is so fun, it doesn't seem like work at all. I'm super grateful for my wife Ione, my daughters Jen and Colleen, and for my grandson, Ethan. I could go on and on, but now it's your turn. Who and what are you grateful for?
Please come and join us in giving thanks to God this November 23rd. Please let your Arrow lady know the details and encourage her to attend. It is good to give thanks.
Allan is the CEO and founder of Arrow Employment Services
Allan Smith, Arrow
3 ways to help your helper stay happily married
Should you care about the state of your helper's marriage? If you are a decent person the answer is clearly "YES!" And surprisingly, if you are a selfish Prig, the answer is still "YES!"
Almost all our customers tell us they want a helper who will stay for more than 1 contract. At the very least, they want their helper to finish her contract. They also prefer to hire happily marriaged women.
Question 1: Would you still be happily married if your husband didn't see you for 2 years? Do you think your helper will still be happily married if her husband doesn't see her for 2 years?
Some of my family are in long distance relationships, with a spouse or boyfriend working in another country. It is really stressful. My wife and I pray for them every day.
Question 2: If your helpers marriage starts to break down, how do you think it will effect her job performance? Under those circumstances do you think she will complete her contract?
Here is the part where it doesn't matter if you are a decent person or are motivated purely by self interest (My wife says I shouldn't say "selfish prig"). Helpers resign from their jobs to go home and try and save their marriages, or to find caregivers for their children after their marriage has crumbled under the pressure of working overseas.
Question 3: Is there something you can do to help your helper stay happily married?
Disclaimer: 50% of marriages fail according to statistics, so there is no ironclad guarantee that any relationship will last for a lifetime. Having said that, there are definitely some things you can do to improve your helper's chance of staying happily married.
- Give her a set time everyday to chat with her family. Talk with her about the best 2-3 times of the day where she could talk to her husband and kids for 30 minutes. Choose a time that works for both you and her, then stick to it.
- Plan for her to go home to the Philippines 2 times a year. The Philippines is only 2 hours away. There is NO reason she shouldn't be able to go home 2 times a year. Even a long weekend will refresh her family relationships.
- Go to cebupacificair.com and sign up for their "seat sale" emails. Share them with your helper and buy the tickets ahead of time.
- Salary deduct in advance for the price of the ticket. It is the helper's responsibility to pay for her ticket.
- Give her a few hours off to go to Philippines Consulate for her OEC so she won't have problems on the return leg.
- Send some small presents home to her family to say "thank you for sharing your wife and mother with our family."
- Ask your helper to agree to a birth control shot before she leaves to make sure she doesn't get pregnant on her trip.
- Don't constantly remind your helper about "how good you treat her compared to other employers" or complain about the time she spends with her family. Sometimes we think we deserve a halo for doing the right thing. Remember, even if you are a selfish prig, helping your helper stay happily married helps you keep a valuable employee. In the long run, you will reap many blessings.
A screenshot from Cebupacificair.com taken today. LOOK! They are having a sale!
Chart assist communication between employers and helpers
Some families really hope their helpers can learn to speak Cantonese quickly. However, it will not happen within one night. Nor will it come true within one week training in the Philippines.
But now, Arrow created a chart to help the Filipino helpers to pick up Cantonese faster and easier. Together with the employer's patience and assistance, it is possible for your helper to pick up Cantonese faster!
All you need to do is to download the file, print and give it to your helper, let her study and practice it in daily life. Of course, Whenever you want to teach her new Cantonese, you speak slowly and let her write down the transliteration that she can understand.
https://docs.google.com/a/arrowes.hk/document/d/18Jtrk3lM-WRMRk2kuOq11hxh4oV4K4UfHgzr3F79UNo/edit
Window Safety Checklist -- National Safety Council
Preventing window falls
Preventing falls out of windows is just as important as learning how to use one in an
emergency. Unattended children run the greatest risk of falls and injuries, so the best first step
is to carefully watch your children as they play. Nothing can substitute for careful supervision.
Do you keep windows shut when children are around?
Keep your windows close and locked when children are around. When opening
windows for ventilation, open windows that a child cannot reach.
Do not rely on insect screens to prevent a fall. Insect screens are designed to provide
ventilation while keeping insects out, not to prevent a child’s fall from a window.
Set and enforce rules about keeping children’s play away from windows or patio doors.
Falling through the glass can be fatal or cause serious injury.
Is there furniture placed under or near windows in your home?
Keep furniture, or anything children can climb, away from windows. Children may use
such objects as a climbing aid.
Do any windows in your home have guards, security bars, grilles or grates?
If you have young children in your home and are considering installing window guards
or window fall prevention devices, be aware that the windows guards you install must
have a release mechanism so that they can be opened for escape in a fire emergency.
Remember that time is critical when escaping a fire.
Consult your local fire department or building code official to determine proper window
guard placement.
What kind of surface is outside windows in your home to potentially cushion a fall?
The degree of injury sustained from a window fall can be affected by the surface on
which the victim falls. Shrubs and soft edging like wood chips or grass beneath
windows may less then impact if a fall does occur.
Emergency fire escape plans
While some falls occur from windows, it is important to realize that in the event of a fire, a
window also can save a child's life. This is why windows play a critical role in home safety.
Has your family developed an emergency fire escape plan?
Windows provide a secondary means of escape from a burning home. Determine your
family’s emergency escape plan and practice it regularly. In the plan, include two
elements of escape from every room.
Remember that children may have to rely on a window to escape in a fire. Help them
learn to safely use a window under these circumstances.
Inspect your home’s windows carefully. Is there anything preventing them from being
opened in the case of an emergency?
When performing spring repairs, make sure that your windows are not painted or
nailed shut.
Do not install window unit air conditioners in windows that may be needed for escape
or rescue in an emergency. The air conditioning unit could block or impede escape
through the window. Always be sure that you have at least one window in each
sleeping and living area that meets escape and rescue requirements.
How to manage your child's homework AND keep your sanity
http://www.cmoney.tw/notes/note-detail.aspx?nid=15930