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So your maid has turned into a night owl, scrolling through her phone until the wee hours of the morning, and you're starting to see more yawns than usual during the day. It's a common scenario in many households in Singapore, where the lines between personal and professional time can blur for live-in helpers. Here’s how you can address this issue constructively, ensuring your maid is well-rested and attentive during her working hours.
Setting Clear Expectations
Open communication is key in any employer-employee relationship. If late-night phone use wasn’t discussed at the outset of her employment, now’s the time to clarify your expectations. Sit down with your maid in a relaxed setting and express your concerns about her late-night habits and their impact on her job performance.
Discuss the Impact on Job Performance
It’s important to discuss how staying up late might affect her health and her duties. Explain that a good night's sleep is crucial for everyone’s well-being and can significantly impact alertness and energy levels. Highlight specific instances where you've noticed a drop in her performance or an increase in forgetfulness, tying these back to her late-night habits.
Create a Digital Curfew
Implementing a digital curfew can be a practical solution. You might suggest that all phones be placed in a common area by a certain time, say 12am midnight, to help everyone in the household disconnect and wind down. Assure her that this policy isn’t about control but about ensuring she gets enough rest to perform her best. But please be reasonable enough to let her go back to her room with sufficient “me time”.
Offer Alternatives
Help your maid avoid feeling isolated or controlled by suggesting enjoyable activities that could replace late-night scrolling. Perhaps a selection of books or magazines in her language, board games, or crafting supplies for her personal time could be appealing. This not only shows care for her well-being but also encourages more enriching downtime activities.
Respect Privacy and Independence
While you have the right to expect professional behaviour, it’s also crucial to respect her privacy and independence. Make it clear that your suggestions are for her benefit as well as that of the household, and ensure that any rules you set are reasonable and respectfully conveyed.
Use Technology Wisely
If your maid agrees to a digital curfew but struggles with self-control, there are apps that can help. Recommend apps that block access to the most distracting functions of a phone during certain hours, or suggest turning off notifications after a certain time.
Regular Check-ins
After implementing new guidelines, have regular check-ins to discuss how things are going. This keeps the lines of communication open and allows for adjustments to any new house rules. It’s also a chance to provide positive feedback when improvements are made, which can be a great motivator.
Searching for the Ideal Helper?
If you find that despite your best efforts, your current arrangements aren’t working out, perhaps it’s time to consider looking for a new helper who better fits your family’s needs. At Searchmaid.com.sg, we make it easy for you to find reliable and highly-rated maids from a range of agencies in Singapore. Our platform provides detailed profiles and reviews, helping you make an informed choice about who you invite into your home.
Check out Searchmaid.com.sg today, and find a maid who aligns perfectly with your household’s requirements and expectations. Whether you need someone who’s an early riser or someone who has a knack for managing household chores efficiently, we’re here to help you find the perfect match!
