Jeeves is truly an extinct species
Been hearing a spate of stories of maids doing the disappearing act.No, no, not in my house, but generally keep hearing about it a lot. I have also had my quota of many maid change overs.So whenever I come to know of 'issues concerning maids', I immediately delve into my knowledge bank of expertise and experience and fish out an appropriate response.
A friend has been having a maid for a while now, and I usually give her a "A" grade.But then problems have started of late.She starts misusing the telephone; in fact you can say that landlines have by default become the communication channel of the maids. Each of the housemates have a mobile now and since they are also moving all the time, is invariably used.So there is this landline sitting quietly and will not be noticed if it used by the maid when everyone is away.No one will even notice that it has been busy for hours at a stretch!I squarely blame technology for this problem!
The monthly bill was a shock as it was expected to only show the fixed charges, but it showed huge number of calls made.Maid of course did not like the bill!
Rule 1 : Embrace technology at your peril.
Rule 2 is never to give time off for them to visit their native place. The temptation to stay away temporarily or permanently is very great. I wonder what the attraction could be. I believe they lead lonely and restricted lives(even though we think otherwise) and for them freedom is more important than all the money(till they spend the money they have earned that is; they want to enjoy money and freedom)that they make.
Rule 3 : Never catch them out committing a grave mistake; like in this case it was obvious that she had made all those calls.Loss of face invariably is a trigger to call it quits.
I have been observing the hired help in the company guest house too. The attraction is the free food and tips from guests and of course a place to live.They come readily enough, but then the unpredictability of timings or number of guests makes them want to leave after a while. For boys I guess it is a gender thing; In big hotels they dont mind the cleaning and cooking, but a guest house looks and feels more like a house, so they leave with a lame excuse of going out to attend a marriage function and are not seen since.
Another friend is planning to leave chennai for the single reason of unreliability and lack of professionalism of servants. She got spoilt in Mumbai where the 'bhai' is a professional and takes great pride in her work.
Is the same bug which bites our auto drivers, biting our maids too!
There was a time when I was emotionally scalded by a maid who stole money and valuables, I was willing to settle for anybody as long as they are reliable. In that bargain I am stuck with a maid who fits the bill perfectly, but then her work is abysmal!
With women taking up serious employment, I would have thought this informal sector will flourish and grow. There is no bureaucray and red tape stunting its growth to blame either.
Why are market forces not dictating entry of serious players?
All this rambling makes me wonder if one can ever have a shade of Jeeves in any of my maids.When the longing gets the better of me, I head towards the bookshelf.I am sure to find him there!
posted by vasukumar @ 3:55 AM
3 Comments:
i know! the feudal spirit is quite missing. but isn't it nice to believe that even a bertie wooster can sometimes land up with a jeeves after someone who stole his socks? :)
I think one of the things of becoming a developed country is to learn to live without domestic help. I do my work here in KL but, I have nothing better to do here being at home all the time. But honestly it gives me more liberty not to depend on some body else. But the moment I land in India I look for the maid to help me out!! But I have seen my friends in the United States, managing the home and work all by themselves, wonderfully well.
So jeeves is trutly an extinct species even in England I suppose.
In India there is the problem of unemployment and huge unskilled labour force.And domestic help is one of the ways of employment for them.
Western countries have made it possible without domestic help not due to altruistic reasons, but purely monetary. It is too expensive to hire one. They are hence opting for more automation and also for more processed food, or more convenience food .Also they are not disturbed by callers and guests and neither they have the pressures of religious/social commitmentsIt is a lifestyle thing.
That was not my point. I only wished when they need the money and with more women needing their help market forces should be operating.
But then kumar has this comment; just like in software, they quit readily at a moments notice, as they are perhaps assured of a job whenever they feel the need to take it up.
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