Housekeeper - Vacation and Paid Holidays

Do you really want her to work that day, or do you just feel she is taking advantage? Perhaps you can offer her a few personal days (paid or unpaid) that she can use at her discretion and if she wants it for Good Friday thats fine. But that you are not offering any more paid Holidays.

Prior to the contract, I'd get her input too. Perhaps President's Day means nothing but another day means something. Also, you might consider a personal day or two. And also put in an expectation of unpaid days.

I have always paid my household employees (housekeeper, nanny, gardener) as 1099 (contract) employees. As such, they are free within reason to set their own schedules provided the work gets done. It also means I do not pay them for their holidays. I pay extra as a 1099 employer (because I realize they have to pay their own taxes, deal with their own retirement savings, insurance, etc.), but I also recognize that if they're smart about it, they can incorporate themselves, and then they can then write off many of their employment expenses as a result. It's a business relationship, plain and simple. I would suggest that unless you're dictating which hours of the day she has to work, you move to a simpler system where she bills you for hours worked, period. Then you're not paying a salary to someone who wants tons of time off, and wants to be paid for all of it. If she wants time off, that's fine (as long as the work is getting done, right?) but she should budget for that, not you. This way, if she wants to take extended vacations, she can, but then you are free within your budget to hire a temporary housekeeper to fill in.

Could not help myself...I am sure you will figure this out though😊

"First World Problems"

[Verse 1:]
My maid is cleaning my bathroom, so I can't take a shower
When I do, the water starts getting cold after an hour
I couldn't order off the breakfast menu, cause I slept in till two
Then I filled up on bread, didn't leave any room for tiramisu
Oh no, there's a pixel out in the corner of my laptop screen
I don't have any bills in my wallet small enough for the vending machine
Some idiot just called me up on the phone, what!? Don't they know how to text? OMG!
I got

[Chorus:]
First world, first world problems
(First world problems)
First world, first world problems
(First world problems)
First world, first world problems

[Verse 2:]
I bought too many groceries for my refrigerator
Forgot my gardener's name, I'll have to ask him later
Tried to fast forward commercials, can't - I'm watching live T.V
I'm pretty sure the cookies in this airport lounge ain't gluten free
My barista didn't even bother to make a design in the foam on the top of my vanilla latte

[Chorus]

[Verse 3:]
Can't remember which car I drove to the mall
My Sonicare won't recharge, now I gotta brush my teeth like a neanderathal
The thread count on these cotton sheets has got me itching
My house is so big, I can't get WiFi in the kitchen
Uh, I had to buy something I didn't even need just
so I could qualify for free shipping on Amazon

[Chorus x2]

[Outro]
(Laughing)

Play the Weird Al Yankovic Quiz

So B., what kind of holidays do you get at your job? I think you are being kind and good - and you get a gold star for that. but for all you know she's no longer Buddhist. I thought most Indians were Hindu anyway. but CHristiatnity is really growing in India and for all you know she converted while she was home. Instead of being angry why not do what alot of companies do - offer a number of paid holidays off - that she can take for whatever she wants - instaed of tying them to bank holidays. Then finally, be grateful for the life you live that you can have a housekeeper. The average American lives the way royalty did only 5 generations ago. If you can read, and you can afford to own a book you're more wealthy than 1/2 of the world. 2/3 of the world lives on less than $100 a month. So with your life style you have a very good life. If you worked hard and are self-made man then be thankful for your intellignecenad good timing & luck to be able to generate a good income. If you inherited your well-being, or even some of it - you ahve even more to be thankful for. Being thankful helps us to not be angry.

I haven't read the other posts, B., but what I will weigh in here is based on your question and your SWH.

She is "negotiating" by continuing to ask for time off and holidays, etc. She will push until you start saying no. I had the same thing happen when I had a lady 3 days a week. She wanted 2 weeks of paid vacation AND a plane ticket to visit her family in the Philippines every year. Nope. I gave her a very nice Christmas bonuses, but not the rest. That is for full time, 5 day a week work.

You have been very generous giving her paid vacation (2 weeks is very nice of you to give) and paid bank holidays. I definitely think that any other days off should be unpaid leave. It's nice for you to allow her to take days off because that makes it hard for you at home without her. But those days should always be unpaid. Don't change that. And she should have to give you at least one week's notice if she needs unpaid time off so that you can make alternate arrangements. (Unless it's an emergency.) You should state that too much time off can possibly be a reason for you having to look for another person to take her place.

About the contract you are writing - is there a way to get it translated by someone who has very good English AND this language? There can be nothing lost in translation with her if she reads it in her own language.

I would also expect that she will try to "sweeten the deal" with you after you've given her the contract. Just say no. And if she tries to push you later (like asking for payment for a non-paid day off), just reiterate that she gets two weeks of paid vacation and bank holidays paid. And drop the subject.

Some people will take a mile if you give them an inch. That is kind of what is happening here. You're doing a good thing by putting all this in writing, but do it right. Making sure that she can read it and that the language isn't too difficult will help both of you. Don't have much discussion about it. Just make sure that she takes the time to read it. And don't bow to her pressure to pay her for holidays other than bank holidays. Especially since she's only working 6 hours a day. Most people who don't work 40 hours a week don't get these kinds of benefits.

Don't operate on how you feel. Operate based on the facts. Refer back to her contract for employment and any updates that have been made to the terms of this agreement.

If I had to choose I tend to choose on the side of being a blessing and being generous. There are 52 weeks in the year and you expect her to work 50 of them not including the random and infrequent banking holidays. That's very American of you.

Does she do a good job while doing her job? Are you satisfied with her performance? Does she go above and beyond? What does that look like and how much is that worth to you and your family?

Lastly do you really want to end up hiring and breaking in a new housekeeper or are you willing to continue to work with this one?

Asking for an additional day off shouldn't be a maker or a breaker. Get your feelings out of it and deal in the facts. If I've already budgeted to pay her for this day then I would do so and give her the day off. I would also make it clearer the terms for days off without pay if necessary.

Can you clarify if you pay her for all these extra days or she's taking them unpaid? If unpaid, then it's a matter of convenience for you guys. If she expects paid, she's crazy and you're crazy to pay her for all of it. That wasn't your agreement. 30 hours a week is barely full time. On the other hand, only 2 weeks paid isn't a lot. I would step that up some and then that's it. All other days are unpaid except typical national holidays. We've had nannies for years so I have some experience. Do you take vacations that mean she doesn't have to come in but gets paid anyway? If so, then I wouldn't increase the 2 weeks, I'd decrease it. See how many week she is getting paid for not working and go from there.

Does she want you to pay her for each day she wants off? That would be excessive. You should set certain vacation days, holidays that you plan--or to honor her religion, and that is what is paid. Any other time is not paid. I work for a bank so I do get those bank holidays. However, a lot of people I know (non-bank employees) get only 6 holidays, and whatever vacation time. Any other time off, other than sick days, is unpaid. If she wants to switch a holiday for a day off, if it works for you, no difference in pay.

If you do not want to provide her Good Friday off, tell her that. Or offer it as leave without pay if she has exceeded her bank holidays and the paid time off you provide her. You need to review your contract.

ETA: I would be clear how many vacation days total, and how many unpaid you are willing to consider, so that she doesn't take advantage and take a lot of days off without pay.

Do you have a written contract?

I can't image paying a housekeeper holidays and vacation days. She's not even full time. No one pays part time employees benefits.

I think you're overpaying her to be honest. She is contract labor and not even full time. I'd say you are stuck though because you've been treating her a certain way. By the way, Good Friday is a holiday for a lot of people so out of all the holidays she could want off this one is an actual holiday. The way it was explained to me was that Easter is a big deal but it's on Sunday. Since most people don't work on Sunday they give their employees the day off on Friday or Monday following Easter for the Easter holiday. So it's a weird one for sure.

Talk to her and give her, writing, what you plan on doing in the future. Include how many vacation days you allow, not paid since she's not full time.

If this was me I would give her a daily rate. If she's paid hourly then if she takes her time she gets paid more. So a daily rate is good. Then let her know what holidays she will not be working. Period. No benefits, nothing. Unless you want her to work a full 40 hour week she shouldn't have full benefits.

She's working 30 hours per week, which is what a lot of corporate employers do to avoid paying any benefits at all. So you are being very smart to pay her for her 2 weeks and holidays.

I think it's a slippery slope to argue about Good Friday vs. Buddhist holidays - you may not be aware of her religious traditions, or that of her husband or other family members. A lot of interfaith families have holiday obligations beyond the individual's own faith, so try to be open. If she has children who are off from school or a spouse who has the day off from work, she might have a legitimate reason for wanting time off. However, having been gone for a month until earlier this week should make her a little less demanding of time off. (On the other hand, if she's been gone, others may want her time on their day off, right?)

I'm surprised by the language barrier. If she is from India, she is very likely to be trilingual - English, Hindi and her regional language. Both English and Hindi are the official languages of India, regardless of region or religion.

If you do write up a contract, please have someone else check it for spelling and erroneous "autocorrect" changes - that really can mess people up anyway, and if you add in a language barrier, it's worse. I see that your computer or phone have made some changes in your post or allowed some incorrect spellings. It's not a problem for us, but if you are putting this into a contract, that's a big problem. You need a really good proofreader to help you above and beyond what your computer does automatically.

The other thing to consider would be a certain number of "floating" holidays. Maybe you want to give her the "bank holidays" since you are off anyway and maybe don't need her those days, but consider a few floating holidays that she can exchange for religious or random holidays of her own. So, for example, although Veterans Day is a bank holiday, if it's not important for you to have it off, maybe she can swap that for a day that works for her. It's a way for your to appear to be flexible and accommodating without taking an additional bite out of your budget.

I know that it's expensive for you, but remember that most companies give 10-15 days vacation, 5-10 sick days, 2 personal days, and 10 holidays. They also pay workers' compensation, Social Security (which you should be paying for her lest you go afoul of the law), 401(k), and profit sharing. It's part of the cost of doing business. I think if you keep track of the time you are already giving "here and there" and institute the use of a time sheet (you can find samples on line or at office supply stores like Staples), you will have really good records (and so will she).

good friday is a religious holiday. if she wants it off, she should not expect to be paid.
2 weeks paid vacation plus bank holidays is a pretty good deal for a housekeeper (assuming you're paying her reasonably, of course.)
i'd put it in writing and be firm about it.
khairete
S.

I'd give her Friday off and then draw up a new contract with specific days she'll have off. My company gives me 8 company paid holidays a year in additional to my pto. Those days are spelled out so there's no question about it. And btw I'm working Good Friday because its not a holiday.

Is Good Friday not a public holiday in America? It is in my country, and maybe, because of the British tradition, it is in India too?

She sounds like she's employed on a permanent part-time basis which, in my country, would entitle her to four weeks' paid pro rata leave and paid public holidays.

Perhaps she's just not across what is normal working conditions in the States because she's new to the country.