Relationships  Discussion Forum

Hi All

I am a working mom with a 25 month old son. He goes to playschool for 3 hours and comes back and stays with my maid till evening. This girl has been with me for 8 months now and I am quite happy with the way she takes care of my son. I have another woman coming and doing the household work such as washing vessels, jhadu, poncha etc. My son also seems very happy with his nanny. Now my problem is of late other nannies coming newly in my aptmt building seem to be getting more salary than her. But they also have to do more work. She herself told me her mom wants her to work some other place bcoz they give more salary. But she didnt want to go coz there was too much work there. Should I increase her salary? How much do all working moms pay their nannies? She comes in at 7 in the morning and helps with cooking. Takes care of my son till 6 and prepares dinner for the night and leaves at 6.45-7.00. I have already given her a Rs. 100 raise. If I raise her salary again will she get used to having her salary raised every few days? Please advice. Saheli replied. I was a little confused after reading your problem between which one you are calling nanny and who you are having a problem with. Anyway, the problem is, although, clear so lets target that.

The nanny is either telling a lie, or telling the truth. Our objective is to retain the nanny at lowest possible price, as far as possible. Lets proceed with this in mind (to me it looks like she is doing it for more money).

See if you can find out if maid is true by asking neighbors/maid herself who is offering her more money. Assuming the maid is doing this for more money, you can tie a ‘carrot over the rabbit’s head and let it run after it’, for e.g - by saying that you will increase her pay in next month or couple of months as you have recently raised her pay. And gift her something like your old saree or suit, job for her hubby, old choollah, cheap but new pressure cooker. In short, give her some perks/fringe benefits -)

If she is true, then the fact is, most of these people don’t mind working hard/more for more money. She is just trying with you. All these ppl understand is money…..... and easy life or affection can’t stop them. In that case, you can increase her pay reasonably that too after a month or so, not rightaway.

I too have had brunt from maids with same story, and they have left work suddenly without any warning (they stop coming to you and turn up after 3-4 days asking for money). What I do is, when the maid joins the job, I clearly tell her the rule that if she wants to leave the job anytime, she needs to give me a week’s warning, else I will cut her pay by X amount (and I too will give her a week’s time before firing her). And I keep reminding her every month about this. It works for me, see if it works for you.
I never pay maid on 1st of the month. I pay them on 3rd or 4th (thus I am sure if she leaves job, she will still come back for claiming her 4 days' pay). Also, give perks in middle of month for same reason.

To be on safer side, you can start looking for another maid if u wish (assuming she has found a job with more money), or raise her pay – whatever suits you. Dont be emotional with these people. Jada sir pe mat chadhao.

But, you know it better.