Bengaluru Woman Seeks Reddit’s Advice on Cutting Maid’s Pay for a 10-Day Leave, Sparking Debate
Bengaluru Woman Seeks Reddit's Advice on Cutting Maid’s Pay for a 10-Day Leave, Sparking Debate
A woman from Bengaluru sought advice on Reddit after her house help unexpectedly took a 10-day leave, leading her to question whether she should deduct her salary. Although she felt guilty about the idea, she was concerned that not setting boundaries might allow her maid to take advantage of her kindness. While she was okay with granting short breaks, she believed that a 10-day absence, which represented a third of the month, warranted a salary adjustment. When she brought up the deduction with her maid, she was met with emotional responses.
Do people ever cut their maid’s salary?
byu/theparadoxicalnaari inbangalore
“I see myself as a fair person. I’ve helped her with her insurance and given her bonuses and other things she requested. I don’t mind giving her a few days off; it’s normal for everyone to need a break. But taking 10 days off—doesn’t that justify a salary cut? That’s one-third of the month,” she wrote on Reddit.
“Why do I feel guilty when she says things like, ‘No one else cut my salary, why did you?’ which I suspect isn’t true since she often complains about others. Or she says her son is in the hospital (every month she has a relative who is either in the hospital or has passed away). I’ve even bought medicine for her family, taken her home, and explained how to use the insurance,” she continued.
The woman’s post led to an engaging discussion on Reddit, where users shared various creative solutions to her situation. Some advised treating the maid’s absence like any other job, emphasizing the importance of clear rules and expectations. Others suggested that the maid should find a replacement when she takes leave, while some recommended not deducting her salary at all.
One user suggested, “Ask her to arrange for a replacement during her absence. You can talk about a fair payment for that arrangement.” A third user pointed out, “It’s an employer-employee relationship, so approach it as such. Be a fair employer, and you shouldn’t feel guilty about it.”
Another user remarked, “It’s a job. Treat it like one. If you’ve discussed leave policies before, you can cut her salary. If not, you can choose to cut it or use this situation as a guideline for future leaves.”
Lastly, someone added, “Don’t be too hard on yourself. You can be generous but also smart. There’s nothing wrong with reducing her pay when she doesn’t show up for over 10 days. Everyone does this. It’s different when you take a vacation for 10 days, but if she doesn’t come to work, it’s logical to adjust her pay since she would have worked had you been available. However, that logic doesn’t apply when she takes an extended leave.”
