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Q: How do I fire my Ayi?
I've got a dilemma. My last Ayi, who was great, went back to her hometown last year and recommended her cousin to take over instead. So the cousin has been cleaning my flat for a year now. I really like her and think she's someone who can be trusted, but she does a terrible job at cleaning my flat. I always have to do another quick clean after she leaves because there are food bits stuck on washed plates, she doesn't clean hard-to-reach areas, instead of properly tidying up messes she just pushes everything into a heap in the corner, she's shrunk many of my good clothes and just really doesn't put her heart into it. I'm on a budget and only hired an ayi because I don't have time to clean myself. However, since she doesn't do a good job I'm still using the little free time I have to clean so keeping her is a waste of money in my opinion. Anyway, I just don't know how to break it to her. I've never fired anyone before and actually like her as a person. Any advice?
10 years 28 weeks ago in Business & Jobs - China
maybe just tell her that you would like to keep her coming, but you don't have the money to pay her any more.
maybe just tell her that you would like to keep her coming, but you don't have the money to pay her any more.
Just tell her you don't need her anymore. Sorrels suggestion might work, but this could leave you with the same crappy ayi at a lower price.
"I don't have time to clean myself." glad this is not a dating site
It's business. Grow a pair and just tell her.
You are being slightly pathetic.
well tell her the same old cliche "it's not you it's me"
Why not show her how you want things done? When my twins were born, we had an ayi. I bought all of the cleaning supplies and showed her how to use them. Things like "use hot water for dishes, hot water to clean the floors" are not the Chinese way. She may think that she's trying to save you money and, of course, the usual "Good is good enough."
coineineagh:
my thought exactly. just because coffaholic is uncomfortable calling attention to problems, should it cost her her job? did you give her a chance to do better? i assure you firing her will hurt her feeling more than complaints.
First decide if you want to clean your house by yourself, or hire a new ayi.
Afterwards, fire her! I think that trying to teach her how to do things will be useless...she will eventually do things as she used to the day after you tried to teach her...
You can say the truth (I don't like how you do it) or you can say that, from that day on, you prefer to clean your house on your own, because you're on a budget or because you want to use the money you give her for something else (to buy a new bike or for your new gym lessons...).
I've never had an ayi... I have a roommate and we have cleaning turns.. It kind of relaxes me cleaning the house, and always put some music on..sometimes is fun and it doesn't take a lot of time after all... 
contact your last Ayi and tell her about your problem with her cousin. don't bring up the fire thing at the first time . but after several times of complaints it would be proper to let her go .
philbravery:
I have mixed felling about that one,I thought of this also however It might work or it could blow up in your face because you told on her to a family member .
Just fire her and do things yourself. It's no need for an additional source of frustration.
You don't have to fire her right on the spot. Perhaps give her a verbal or written notice that in 3 weeks you would like to end having ayi services in your home. Don't just fire her without notice, give her some time to prepare to look for more work, and politely tell her or give a written letter typed in Chinese that a friend helps write for you. I don't know her situation, but she might depend on the income she makes from you, it is quite cruel to fire someone without at least giving them a warning or 2 first.
Scandinavian:
you mean the same notice she would give if she decided to do something else.
Our Ayi didn't show up one day, OK, the day after the wife sends her a text. She has gone to visit her family at the other end of the country and will be back in 3 months. After 2 months my wife wrote to her to say we would be out of town about the time she would come back, if just to make sure she wouldn't risk having the trouble of going to our home in vain, her reply was that she probably would not come back ever. And I gave this woman home baked cookies.
ironman510:
At least there needs to be some evidence that they paid her the last salary, I'm not sure how long you've been in China, but this is the land of scams man. Video of the signing, signing with the police in front or bank deposit if she has a bank account. One of those methods must be used with the written notice.
Take a dump in the middle of your apartment and she will fire herself!
Tell her u don't need her anymore coz u don't have money to pay bad done work. Show her the proves and 88.
As mike168229 said, biz is biz. U will do her a favor explaining the reasons why u fire her, u could even make sure she understands that most of foreigners' standards for cleaning an apt are way different than chinese so if she wants to improve has to learn from mistakes and move on.
Try avoiding becoming as chinese do when communicating, I mean the only thing u get for avoiding to talk straight is make things worse n create misunderstoods.
Maybe she thinks your paying too little so she is doing little. If she does a better job of it then maybe she'll expect a higher salary. 'get what you pay for attitude' It is unfortunate but Chinese just do not know how to clean thoroughly, no matter how often you show them. My wife still fails to understand the importance of a clean home. no matter how much I show her.
Just tell to her go away because this and this...I change already 5 ayi.
Coffa is Chinese by her pic. She looks like her tongue is outside all the time.
Ive been there done that, the best way is to make an agreement sheet for the last salary and last day of work and take it to the local police station and have her sign it infront of the police and they will stamp it as a witness, sounds crazy but we were taught to do this after our Ayi said we didn't pay and we did though. The term police isn't the same as it is for us. The police here do and handle this office type stuff and yes our visa's too.
