Its that time of year again, while
the stores are running specials and sales, others have already received their "13th cheques" or
"bonus" whichever word you use for it. Then I find myself wondering
once again, how much should I give my helper as a bonus, Can i afford to give my helper a bonus? Are you planning to give your helper a bonus? Is your helper's
bonus dependent on whether or not you receive a bonus from your work place?
Should her bonus (if there is one) be dependent on you receiving yours from
your employer. If you do give your helper a bonus, is it a full 13th cheque or
just a percentage? Is it realistic to give your helper a bonus, does she
deserve it, is the bonus performance based? Should your helper not be rewarded
for great work just because you have not received a bonus from your work
place.
Do you know that E200.00 which could be
meaningless to you would mean a whole lot to your helper, chances are that
E200.00 is on average 25% of your helper's salary, so while you are beating
your employer up for not giving you at least 25% bonus or a full 13th cheque,
your helper's day could be made by a mere E200 from you. Does it really make
sense to not give your helper at least 25% bonus as Christmas bonus, of course
you could give her more, I'm just making an example with the 25%. Lets put
things into perspective, your helper, regardless of her performance, is the one
you leave your home, belongings and children with. She is the one in charge of
everything in your home during the 8 hours you are in your place of work, and
any extra hours you decide to be away from home thereafter.
Others say they prefer giving bonus in January when its school fees time, to avoid helpers not returning for duty after Xmas break, I suppose that is fair. I for one am a victim of that, 2 years ago I gave my helper a bonus, it was my first time giving a bonus, well I guess she was my first full time helper i ever had, I gave her 2 weeks break and a bonus after only having worked for me some 4 months, yap she never returned for duty. She never mentioned that she won't come back, I realised on the day she was supposed to return for duty, which was day before i was supposed to return for duty, that she is not coming back. Should i have then held this against my next helper?? Would it be fair to do that???? #FoodForThought
I always find it awkward when a person
says I won't give my helper a bonus because my employer is not giving me a
bonus, I do not see how the 2 are related. While I understand issues of
affordability and value for money, I always try not to lose focus of the fact
that, my helper, though never perfect, is the custodian of my child at this
very moment as I write this. Now that ought to be worth something. While I
would like to afford more things in December which my employer may or may not
reward me for, I want to believe that by making Christmas merrier for my
helper, by that act of giving her at the very least E200 over and above her
salary, I might just trigger some shower of blessings on myself now or in
future. That by getting her that clothing gift voucher from jet, I wd've made a
great xmas for not only her, but for her kids too who she probably will be
spending all or most of her money on. Think about it, lets not make it be only
about us, sometimes you don't need to give much to make a difference, E200 for
my helper I believe is 2 return trips to her home, yes all that is just bus
fare. Let us try not make it too much about us, but more on the spirit of
giving side, heck you can make it E100 if you think E200 is too much, if I have
my way, I will give her more, I am planning to give her more, I'm not sure
where I will get that money from, but if I have to forgo my gym subscription
for the month of December just so I make her Christmas merrier, that is what I
will do.
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