There is a wide perception among Malaysians where many are afraid to hire a maid due to one crucial reason: runaways. This refers to domestic worker escaping/running away from her employer during her specified employment period. Although runaways do happen, statistics have shown that it does not occur as frequently as many would think so.
It was reported that in Malaysia, about 1 in every 20 maids run away from their employers. While there are more than 250,000 maids registered in Malaysia, this number may still daunt employers as that means a total of 1,250 run away from employment, thus discouraging them to hire a maid. That said, Malaysians must understand that the few main reasons why runaways happen are due to factors such as abuse, poor working environment, conflicts during employment, being misled or lied to by their maid agencies or employers, or some just seek a better opportunity elsewhere with freedom.
As an experienced maid agency, there are ways to mitigate and prevent maid runaways from happening if you are an employer. As most maids from Indonesia and Philippines are here to earn an honest living, employers play a huge role in taking care of their wellbeing. Fostering and maintaining a positive and respectful relationship with your maid is essential for the wellbeing of your household as well as to avoid unfortunate runaway situations. This blog post lets you, as an employer to your maid, know the ways on how to develop a meaningful connection with your maid to prevent them from running away from your household!
1. Clear Communication: Effective communication is the cornerstone of any successful relationship. Take the time to establish open and transparent communication channels with your maid from the outset. Encourage her to voice any concerns or grievances she may have and assure her that her opinions are valued. Some maids are generally more stubborn which may take some time to sooth her understanding. However, this requires patience and understanding as an employer as you must try to understand that your maid is a human with feelings and her own opinions. Similarly, be clear in expressing your expectations regarding her duties, working hours, and any house rules that need to be followed.
2. Respect and Dignity: Treat your domestic helper with the same respect and dignity that you would expect for yourself. Do avoid speaking down to her or belittling her efforts, or even calling her unpleasant. Acknowledge and appreciate her hard work and contributions to your household. Remember that mutual respect forms the foundation of a healthy relationship built on trust and understanding. The more respect formed, the more the maid is willing to continue her employment.
3. Empathy and Compassion: Similar to the first point discussed above, domestic helpers are often far from their families and may experience feelings of loneliness or homesickness. As an employer, showing signs of empathy and compassion towards your maid’s emotional well-being may boost her morale. If there is time, try taking an interest in her life outside of work, inquire about her family and interests, and offer support and encouragement when needed. Don’t forget that being away from home is a difficult experience! By demonstrating care and empathy, you create a supportive environment that once again fosters loyalty and trust.
4. Follow rules/guidelines and meet expectations: Some employers in Malaysia take advantage of the maid’s employment by not paying their salary on time, forcing them to work on rest days etc. These are all actions that may lead to unhappiness and runaway cases. It is key to ensure that your maid gets what they deserve as they have put in a huge amount of effort keeping your household for you. Do pay them on time and accordingly if they work on rest days!
5. Conflict Resolution with the help of your agency: This is where engaging a reputable maid agency comes into play. Most maid agencies nowadays do not take responsibility for the maids they provide, and this means that the maid has no support system here in Malaysia if an issue or conflict arises. At Innovedge, we provide personalized maid counselling session with the employer. During the sessions, we dive deep into the conflict and try to understand the situation as a whole from a neutral standpoint, hoping to resolve the issue smoothly for both parties. A responsible and compassionate maid agency can certainly reduce the possibility of runaways as it gives a sense of comfort for the maid, knowing that there is an agency that looks out for their wellbeing. As an employer, this is a crucial part in choosing your agency!
In conclusion, maids running away may sound discouraging for employers. However, fostering a good relationship with your domestic helper is essential and can indefinitely tackle such problem. Remember that a positive relationship not only benefits your domestic helper but also enhances the overall well-being and happiness of your entire household. By nurturing harmony and respect, you can prevent runaway situations and create a mutually fulfilling partnership that stands the test of time.
