Its been years we have very nice domestic helps. The maid is a member of the family.
We do not have a fixed money / salary relation in a sense. There is a token amount per month.
But the way it works is, she takes advance for years worth of salary for being able to manage big events for her family.
Then every year around summer, we pay for her kids school fees and books. Every Diwali, she asks us for some lifestyle purchases, like microwave oven, computer for kids etc.
Point is, it has not been a salary bound relationship so much and she has been of tremendous help over the years. With me falling ill, she has this heightened sense of responsibility. Comes early. Cleans up my office room first, so that I can settle there for the day early on.
Same relation with the driver. Again, money wise, they are always over compensated and more than that in the time of need, we have lent them up to years worth of advance money. Since the diagnosis, there are multiple trips across the city for meeting doctors, going to diagnostic centers, hospital trips by the family. Airport pick up and drop offs for the visiting family members. Not even Sundays have been holidays for him last month ! Apart from driving around in a city like Bangalore, he is also doing all the shopping needed to keep the house running. He comes early in the morning, so that my elder kid does not miss tennis practice, stays well late till 9PM until all appointments are over.
So, this month end, when I decided to pay the salaries, I wanted to add 30-40% more than their monthly due.
But the response we got was a true expression of compassion.
The maid said, "Cut from my advance madam this month. You need money more now" !
The driver refused to accept the extra, "I am glad I am of use when there is a need. I can not accept money for that".
The proof of existence of humanity and compassion, is already healing me :)
We do not have a fixed money / salary relation in a sense. There is a token amount per month.
But the way it works is, she takes advance for years worth of salary for being able to manage big events for her family.
Then every year around summer, we pay for her kids school fees and books. Every Diwali, she asks us for some lifestyle purchases, like microwave oven, computer for kids etc.
Point is, it has not been a salary bound relationship so much and she has been of tremendous help over the years. With me falling ill, she has this heightened sense of responsibility. Comes early. Cleans up my office room first, so that I can settle there for the day early on.
Same relation with the driver. Again, money wise, they are always over compensated and more than that in the time of need, we have lent them up to years worth of advance money. Since the diagnosis, there are multiple trips across the city for meeting doctors, going to diagnostic centers, hospital trips by the family. Airport pick up and drop offs for the visiting family members. Not even Sundays have been holidays for him last month ! Apart from driving around in a city like Bangalore, he is also doing all the shopping needed to keep the house running. He comes early in the morning, so that my elder kid does not miss tennis practice, stays well late till 9PM until all appointments are over.
So, this month end, when I decided to pay the salaries, I wanted to add 30-40% more than their monthly due.
But the response we got was a true expression of compassion.
The maid said, "Cut from my advance madam this month. You need money more now" !
The driver refused to accept the extra, "I am glad I am of use when there is a need. I can not accept money for that".
The proof of existence of humanity and compassion, is already healing me :)
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