Driver/Domestic Help

WearyTraveller

Can anyone advise on the practicalities/etiquette of hiring domestic staff in India?

If we had a driver and a maid living on the premises, what hours/days would they expect to work, and would we be expected provide food for them?

capt_mahajan

Driver, no.

Maid, if 24 hour, yes, and even if she is there the whole day.

Working hours: A 24 hour maid would normally be around early morning till after dinner, with an hour or two off post lunch. Not that she would be working all the time, but she would be around.

A driver, normally 8/10 hours, but again, that is flexible depending on when he is needed. Times are sometimes staggered because of that.

Nothing is rigid, however. Am only indicating what a decent Indian employer would expect.

In any case, would suggest make your expectations very clear before employing.

fly2raven

I may be wrong - and I hope someone else here can help me out on this - but I have heard that if you hire staff full time you are also expected to give them much more then just food.

On festivals and auspicious days you will be expected to give clothing, money, extra food or other types of bonuses.

If a family member of theirs becomes ill you may be expected to pay for the hospitalization (at least that is what someone told me)

And I am sure there are other things that will come up as extras...they become part of the family in a way.

WearyTraveller

Thanks for your response. I assume you're referring to the food provision? Would a maid expect to receive prepared meals, or would she cook for herself if supplied with the facilities and ingredients?

capt_mahajan

Yes, was talking about the food. And she would cook for herself.

fly2raven, a full time driver is normally not given much else.

A full time 24 hour maid may be given toilteries and bedding etc but thats about it.

About once or twice a year (Diwali is typical) a 'bonus' is given to the maid. We give a months salary. It is expected that she will do quite a bit of extra work around that time... traditionally spring cleaning time.. in the house.

A driver may get a tip, not a full months salary.

In any case, no extra food, provisions for family or clothes are part of the deal. Indians may typically pass on some of the old clothes and things to the maid/her family, but that is an extra.

medical treatment for the live in maid, yes. Not for the family.

fly2raven

Thats good to know - I think my friends maid must have it really really good

capt_mahajan

Its a vicious circle. Foreigners may have an attitude of 'its only x dollars', and local help knows that and plays up.

I always see it as a question of what percentage of salary is being given as a tip or a bonus. Its a more appropriate way of doing things, rather than dividing by 41 or whatever.

Nick-H

Would you expect her to cook for you? If so, I'd guess she'd eat too. Don't know... never employed anyone full time.

As to expectations, yes they are there, apart from normal pay. I guess one is expected to be generous, within reasonable bounds. It is not only staff, but you may find that other people seek help from you... My wife tells people that we have put all our money into the house, and now live on a limited pension (not so far from the truth) out of which she has a small budget for charity: that way we try to avoid the perception that there is a bottomless foreign purse (which is, of course, sadly very untrue).

You can give new clothes to your servants for Divali, for instance, without it impacting much on your budget. See how a person dresses; they probably will not welcome anything very much more flash anyway. A good cotton sari, even, is not much money.

<cross-posted with much more useful info from the Capt>

We just paid a small amount for medical help for the child of the woman who lives between our gardening lady and our ironing lady.!

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shashank.aggarwal

I agree with captain...on festivals all the staff employed by you, whether official OR personal are given some tip, bonus, gifts etc...

Medical treatment is generally not part of the deal...however when you have a live-in maid then you yourself would help her out on humanitarian grounds...even for driver many people do help the person with minor medical expenses...

Medical help given to family is not uncommon..people do give it..but its not part of any 'Deal'...its purely humanitarian grounds...simply on donation basis..

<cross-posted with Capt and Nick>

Now Nick has also confirmed the point...

About the food given to maid, I am not sure about western food, however its quite obvious is she is cooking something for us, she will eat it too...I mean we all eat Roti and/OR rice..so there is no point in her cooking for herself separately..

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fly2raven

My friend even told me that her maid asked her to pay the school fees for her child...and my friend isn't a foreigner - she was born raised and never left Hyderabad.

WearyTraveller

We will probably do most of the cooking ourselves. We assume that if we're cooking a western meal, albeit vegetarian, the staff will prefer to prepare their own food.

On another tack, what is the situation with days off each week?

capt_mahajan

Again, nothing fixed, and this has to be cleared in the beginning too.

Some maids with families living outside the city will take a few weeks off a year. Some will take a few days off anyway every month. Some will ask for a weekly off, and some will combine a weekly off with taking french leave wherever possible.

Our terms are, for somebody who doesnt take annual leave, and doesn't have a weekly off.

-If you cant come, you have to call. You will be paid for the call. (not applicable for a live in maid)
-If you take more than 4 days a month off, you will not get paid.
Have never done this, but it is a fair threat.
-If you are sick and can't come, you have to send your daughter (who works elsewhere). She will be paid extra in addition to your salary, and decently too. However, if she stops working and goes back to school, we will pay her school fees

jyotirmoy

My driver works for 12 hours with Sunday off. I pay him Rs.4500/- per month. If he works beyond 12 hours overtime is paid. And yes on Diwali he is given some gifts.

brownboy66

is there any/ much variation from region to region? The terms you've described sound pretty familiar (hours of work, assistance with medical, bonus payments, etc...) - but I'm guessing rates/ conditions must be higher/ better in Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, etc....?

capt_mahajan

Rates in Hyderabad are sometimes a little higher than where family lives in Delhi. Bombay is more expensive, have lived there. Bangalore I don't know.

I think the reason is that the maids etc there (Delhi) walk to work, and here they take long public transport, which adds to cost.

Also, the same amount of money buys a house/apartment in a 'posher' part of town in Hyderabad vs Delhi, with consequent higher salary expectations.

My father, when he comes here from Delhi, always comments with surprise on this.. car cleaner, maids, ironing are higher here

And, even some of the daily household neccessities are more expensive here. Including a huge 4/5 rupee difference per litre on petrol.

Where Hyderabad is cheaper is transport.. despite the petrol difference, distances are small, and housing, and eating out/entertainment.