Woman Shares Frustrating Issues She Faced With Her Domestic Helper, Ended Up Sparking Divided Reactions Online

A woman from Malaysia recently took to Threads to share about her poor experience with a domestic helper, sparking divided reactions among netizens. 

"Our maid was lowkey starting to think she was our 'housemate' instead of our 'housemaid'. And honestly, the last one really blew my mind," prefaced the employer, Muna, before listing eight incidents she felt crossed the line.

"In the early weeks working with us, a parcel arrived for her. She never asked for our address, she said she [took] it from one of our mails," shared Muna. 

The helper also started referring to Muna's house as "rumah kita" ("our home"), and asked to change their laundry detergent to her favourite scent. After, she started washing her laundry together with the family's. 

Muna said the helper would join her family at the dining table after meals while they chatted, and added that the latter refused to fry sotong “because she said she was scared it would explode near her face”. The helper also finished half a bottle of their soda before the family had the chance to even open it. 

Then came what was likely Muna's last straw. She recalled: "And the one that really got me, she got upset because we didn’t leave any prawn curry that I cooked for my husband."

"The list honestly goes on. In the end, when she said she wanted to resign because she’s 'too old to be scolded', I accepted it immediately. Mind you, she’s in her early 40s. And as always, somehow I’m the bad person in someone’s life," revealed Muna. 

Muna's post has since gone viral, with netizens leaving their takes on the situation. 

Many sided with Muna, saying that as the employer, she should have set clear boundaries with the helper early on, outlining what was and wasn’t acceptable in her home.

Some said that even though they share a close relationship with their helpers, they would never dine at the same table or do their laundry in the same batch. 

Others felt the helper was being "manipulative" and asked whether Muna had filed a complaint with the agency after letting her go.

One shared: "My maid is working for me for more than 10 years already. Not once did she touch any in the fridge unless I tell her so."

Another added: "You did the right thing. Should have talked to her much earlier about her behaviour. She needs to know & respect the boundaries."

Others had stronger opinions about it. A particularly blunt comment read: "Glad the trash took itself out." Another netizen opined: "She is not a housemaid. She is an expatriate."

They reassured Muna that she wasn’t the "bad guy," saying they wouldn’t have tolerated such behaviour either if they were in her shoes.

Then there were those on the other side, saying Muna could have treated the helper "more humanely". 

"Thank your lucky stars she didn't humiliate you in front of all. Once these ungrateful people get comfortable they think we are their servants!" penned a netizen, who is likely a domestic helper herself. 

Others pushed back on Muna’s complaints, with one jokingly asking how the helper was expected to not know their address… unless she had been blindfolded on the way home.

"Oh no the help wanted to be treated like a human being," penned one netizen, while another echoed: "Malaysians and Singaporeans reminding everyone once again how terrible they treat their domestic workers."

A number of people felt Muna was being too strict with her domestic helper. Some said they often cooked extra and invited their helpers to dine with them, while others didn’t see a problem with the laundry situation, since the helper was the one doing it anyway.

"Some people don’t have the little luxuries we have and they just want a home too," opined a commenter. 

"So if maids in Malaysia are not allowed to have packages delivered to the place where they live AND work where are they supposed to get packages delivered?" questioned another netizen. 

Some also felt that the helper would "take even better care" of the home if she sees the place as "their home". 

Those speaking up on the helpers behalf, however, were met with this response from another netizen: "Hiring a live-in house keeper is no different from hiring nanny, caregiver for elderly, gardener, chauffeur. It’s how you treat them. Work on the mutual respect. You need service, they need employment. Just like your employees at work, be kind but be firm… needing their service doesn’t make you a slave driver if you don’t behave like one."

Whose side are you on? 

Photos: Threads, RDNE Stock project/ Pexels