Russian Woman in India Explains Why She Pays ₹45,000 to Her Maid, Uses ‘KPI System’ for Performance Bonuses
Not everyone sees house help as just staff — some treat them like team members working toward mutual growth. A Russian woman living in Bengaluru, Iuliia Aslamova, has caught the internet’s attention for this very reason. Her Instagram post revealing that she pays ₹45,000 per month to her domestic worker has gone viral, igniting both praise and criticism across social media.
At the heart of Aslamova’s approach is a firm belief in professionalism, trust, and human dignity. Sharing her thoughts in a detailed caption, she explained her reasoning behind the pay, incentives, and long-term commitment to her staff — particularly the nanny she hired for her daughter, Elina.
“My biggest pride and honor in life is that there hasn’t been a single person who resigned from me until I let them go.”
She highlighted how domestic work in India is often undervalued, with many employers labeling their house help as unreliable or likely to “just run away.” But she disagrees strongly with this mindset.
“Typically, household help are not treated professionally in India. Most people say – ‘they just run away.’ I disagree: think of other people’s jobs the same way you think of your own, regardless of designation.”
According to her, treating workers with dignity, setting clear expectations, and offering room for growth can transform how these roles are perceived — and performed.
Her method? Structured hiring, regular salary hikes, performance-based bonuses, and skill development opportunities — like driving lessons.
When she began looking for a nanny, Aslamova wasn’t casual about it. She conducted at least 20 interviews and created a detailed checklist of must-have traits.
“When hiring a nanny for Elina, I did at least 20 interviews and made a proper checklist of important qualities to look for in a candidate. We needed the nanny part-time – but my key approach was: let’s pay well (which is not that significant compared to our daughter’s safety, happiness, and – most importantly – the mindset of the person).”
What began as a part-time position with fair compensation evolved into a full-time opportunity with additional perks:
“During the first year, we were validating each other. The nanny got a 10% hike. At the beginning of the second year, I introduced a KPI system and allowed her to earn more.”
“In the third year, I offered a full-time job with a 1.7x hike, KPIs, and training (now the nanny is getting her driving license and will soon drive Elina to classes). And my commitment was clear – if you go with me, I will take care of you.”
Her KPI (Key Performance Indicator) system, which many associate with corporate environments, helps reward consistency and excellence even in domestic work.
And she doesn’t stop at financial support. She actively invests in the personal development of her staff, believing that: “Your growth, success, and future depend on how many growth opportunities you’re able to grab, observe, and execute. If you spend 4–5 hours daily doing housework instead of focusing on growth – my advice is simple: you’re missing out big time.”
Not everyone agreed with her methods or the pay scale. The post gathered a wide spectrum of reactions online. While one user commented, “Women upbringing women,” in admiration of her mentorship-based mindset, another wrote, “I would endorse this approach as long as the amount is in a sustainable range in the long run (e.g. not more than 10% of my monthly income),” expressing concern about how feasible such a model is for others.
Some praised her respect for domestic help, with one comment reading, “I think it is a good deal if the house help is honest and trustworthy.” Others, however, were more critical. A user remarked, “KPI system for slavery. Wow. That’s modern slavery,” highlighting discomfort with applying corporate metrics to household labor.
There were also concerns about the broader economic impact of her actions. “You should also think about others. How will others afford if you inflate the market just because you have money from abroad?” one person pointed out, suggesting her actions could set unrealistic expectations for others in the same city.
Still, many came to her defense, seeing the post as aspirational rather than prescriptive. One user explained, “The helps are enablers, I truly value how much they do to let us actually do what we are good at.” Another chimed in with a comparison: “This post isn’t for you. If you see a celebrity asking you to buy an Hermes bag, you don’t start criticising the price. You quietly accept that you can’t afford it and scroll on. Do the same for this reel.”
Despite the divide in opinions, Aslamova ended her post with a simple but powerful reflection on values and ethics: “If you treat people badly, karma will reach you.”
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