Can You Ask Your Helper To Do These Tasks?

Can you ask your domestic helper to do these tasks? – Domestic helpers have become an integral part of households with busy parents and big families. Having someone who can clean the house, do the laundry, cook meals can help give you peace of mind.

You can have more time to focus and be more productive in your work. You can strike a good work-life balance and have time to pursue your interests. Or even take up a new hobby. Also, you can spend more quality time with your loved ones.

While your domestic helper can assist in most household and caregiving tasks, you might have wondered if you can ask her to do more.

Can I ask the domestic helper to drive the car?

Your driver suddenly cannot come to work, and you have a meeting scheduled in the morning. Your maid incidentally has a driver’s license. Can she drive your kids to school instead?

The short answer is: no. Nannies and maids are essential for household tasks, but driving motorized vehicles like cars is not one of them. This is especially important if you have hired a foreign domestic worker. Driving a car is not considered one of her household duties.

Making her drive a motorized vehicle will be in violation of Work Permit conditions. As it would be beyond the scope of what a domestic helper can do on the job. The Ministry of Manpower can take action against an employer who has made their domestic helper drive a car.

Aside from that, it might be very risky to ask your domestic helper to drive. Especially if she came from overseas. For example, if your maid is from the Philippines, she is more used to driving on the right side of the road.

It might be challenging for her to navigate the roads of Singapore if she is not used to a right-hand drive car. The risks of an accident are higher. In the end, it might not be worth it if you value life and property. Perhaps it is better to order a taxi instead.

Can I ask my domestic helper to massage my mum?

When you hire a domestic helper, not only do you allow them to your home but you also welcome them to your private space.

You may become very familiar with your domestic helper as you get to know them better in your daily interactions. You may even grow fond of them if they do a good job and have a pleasant personality, too.

However, you must keep your relationship with the help professional. Their main focus should be keeping your home in tip-top shape and managing daily chores.

You cannot ask them to do something such as giving your mom a massage, regardless of whether they have a background in physiotherapy or they have mentioned in passing that they are really good in pijat (“massage” in Indonesian).

Maids are on their feet basically the entire day, and asking them to give someone a massage at the end of it could make them end up sorely overworked and tired. Remember, you hired your maid mainly for housekeeping.

If she gets too exhausted, she might not be in any condition to complete her primary tasks satisfactorily. Your maid is human, too, and needs to recharge at the end of the day. Why not take your mum to a wellness center instead?

It might even be a welcome treat to visit a reputable spa for some well-needed relaxing massage.

Can You Ask Your Helper To Do These Tasks? – Conclusion

Domestic helpers can make your life easier by taking over menial labor that may otherwise eat up your time and energy. There is a myriad of things that they can do, from managing the upkeep of your house to minding your children or taking care of the elderly. Whatever

tasks were agreed upon when your maid was first hired, these are the functions that she will essentially do in your household.

A good worker will fulfill her duties well and even go above and beyond the minimum required, but at the same time, a good employer knows the limits of what the household help can do. It is important to maintain a harmonious professional relationship so that everyone can thrive.