'Everything must be perfect even cutting the vegetables': Maid seeks advice after strict employer refuses transfer request
Maid, domestic helper
SINGAPORE: A domestic helper has appealed for advice online after claiming that her perfectionist employer refused to let her transfer to another household, despite her struggles to cope with the demanding working conditions.
In a post shared on Thursday (Oct 14) in the Facebook group SINGAPORE TRANSFER (No Fees/SD), DIRECT HIRE & NEW HELPER, the helper said she could no longer work for her employer because “the system in the house is very difficult” for her.
She said even the smallest details had to be done perfectly, including cutting vegetables into exactly the same size. According to the helper, her employer would not accept pieces that differed from one another.
She also alleged that she was frequently scolded over what she considered minor mistakes, leaving her feeling as though she was going “crazy” almost every day.
“Every day, before starting work, I am nervous and [always] thinking, ‘What mistake [will I do] today?’ because for them, I am never right. I am always wrong,” she wrote.
The helper said she had worked in Singapore for 10 years and had maintained a good record throughout her employment. However, she claimed that she had never experienced such intense stress under an employer before.
“I just worked for 1 month, but really, I can’t stay anymore. I asked so many times for a transfer, but they ignored me.”
“And they said if I want to break the contract, they didn’t want to sign for release papers, but they will send me back to Indonesia.”
According to her, there had been two other helpers in the household who worked in the household before her, and they also only stayed for 1 month.
With no one else to turn to, she appealed to other employers and helpers: “What can I do? I want to find a new employer. But without a release paper, is it possible?”
‘Go home and come back’
In the comments, many netizens encouraged her to treat the experience as a learning opportunity and persevere rather than throw in the towel.
One commenter wrote, “What kind of vegetables are you cutting, long or short? I see that your employer is training you to be better than before. If you do everything well and gain skills, you can ask for a higher salary, you know.”
Another agreed, pointing out that there was a practical reason behind the seemingly fussy instructions.
“If vegetables are not cut to the same size, one will overcook while another will be undercooked. Look at those challenges in a positive way — you might learn and be better at your job. As long as your boss talks to you nicely, she is trying to help you get used to their way of doing things. Good luck!”
A third told her, “In my opinion, you should hold on for now because the first month is an adaptation period. Working for one employer for 10 years doesn't guarantee you have enough experience. Every family has different menus and food preferences.”
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Others, however, felt she should put her own well-being first rather than endure a situation that left her mentally drained.
A fellow domestic helper shared, “Go home and come back. I spent 12 years with my previous employer, but I went back for a long time, so they hired another helper. Now I’m back, but I’m not lucky, so I broke my contract too. It’s a bad record, but I don’t mind. Different employer, different treatment, so it’s okay as long as you’re not mentally stressed.”
In other news, a 30-year-old Singaporean has shared online that he feels “dejected” about his career, saying that even with both a polytechnic diploma and a university degree, he has not been able to land a job that pays reasonably well.
In a post on the r/singaporejobs forum, the man said he is currently employed in a casual hospital role through an external vendor, supplementing his income with freelance work to make ends meet.