What to Do When Your Domestic Helper Is Sick?

Hiring a maid is an excellent way to help manage household responsibilities. By delegating household chores, the family will have more time to spend on more productive or leisure activities. 

However, as an employer, you have to prepare for unexpected situations such as when your maid is sick.

Such situations need to be handled with care and compassion. Here’s a guide on what to do when your domestic helper is sick.

Pay Attention to the Signs and Take Action Immediately

The first thing to do is to recognize the signs that your maid may be sick. Pay attention to signs such as physical discomfort, fatigue, coughing, fever, etc. 

Some helpers may hesitate to report illness for fear of causing inconvenience or losing their job.

This is understandable as a lot of maids are the sole breadwinner for their family back home. So, always maintain open communication and assure your maid that her health is a priority. If your maid is unwell, make sure that she receives medical attention immediately.

If your maid is suffering from a minor illness, you may take her to a general practitioner. For more serious symptoms, visit a hospital.

Encourage Rest and Recovery

What to do when your domestic helper is sick? Once it is clear that your maid is sick, make sure that she takes time off from work to rest. Even if the symptoms seem mild, rest is important for recovery and it can prevent the illness from getting worse.

If your maid lives with you, provide her with a comfortable and quiet space away from family members so she can rest and recover without getting disturbed. 

Ensure she gets medication and support. Check on your maid regularly to monitor her condition. Reassure her about her job security and well-being.

Prevent the Spread of Illness

If the illness is contagious, you need to implement safety measures such as isolating your maid, wearing masks, sanitizing shared spaces, as well as monitoring the health of everyone in the household. 

Doing these will prevent the spread of illness and protect your family and your maid.

Provide Emotional Support

Check your maid regularly. Provide comfort items like snacks or books. If she has family back home, offer help in contacting them. 

A simple act of kindness goes a long way in fostering a positive and healthy working relationship.

Have Alternative Arrangements in Place

While your maid is recovering, you may need to have alternative arrangements in place for household chores. For example, you can share duties among family members.

If you have young children or elderly who require care, you can ask close friends or relatives to provide support temporarily. 

You can also hire a part-time cleaner or ask your maid agency about temporary relief options.

Plan for Future Incidents

The last one in our guide on what to do when your domestic helper is sick is to plan for future incidents. After your maid recovers, consider creating a plan for future sick days.

The plan can include a checklist of steps to take, contact numbers, preferred clinics, as well as clearly written sick leave policies. 

Having a plan for future incidents reduces uncertainty and stress for both you and your maid.

FAQs Do When Your Domestic Helper Is Sick

What’s the first thing I should do if my maid seems sick?

You should pay attention to signs of illness like fatigue or coughing and talk to her immediately. Reassure her that her health is a priority and take her to see a doctor as soon as possible.

Should my maid continue with chores if she only has a mild cold?

No. It’s important to let her rest, even if the symptoms seem mild. Rest helps speed up recovery and can prevent the illness from becoming more serious. Provide a comfortable space for her to recover.

What if her illness is contagious? How do I protect my family?

If the illness can spread, you should take extra safety measures. This includes having her rest in a separate room, wearing masks, and regularly sanitizing shared spaces like the kitchen and bathroom.

Conclusion

Now you know what to do when your domestic helper is sick. Hiring a maid is more than just finding the right person to help you manage household responsibilities. 

It is also about preparing for unexpected situations such as illness or injury.

Your Maid Agency is a trusted maid agency in Singapore that helps you find the best possible candidate quickly and efficiently. 

At Your Maid Agency, your local Bukit Timah maid agency, we offer various services, including direct hiring, work permit application, purchase of maid insurance, and medical checkups, among others. If you want to learn more about our services, visit Your Maid Agency.