Monitor the maid: Should you install a CCTV at home to monitor?

IN Dads, Living in Singapore, Mums, Parenting Woes | BY Sean Foo | Wednesday, July 24, 2013

4 tips on installing a CCTV at home to monitor your maid

Check out 4 tips on monitoring your maid

A maid on camera taking ?care? of an infant

New set of problems

As society progresses, one of the biggest social changes is the erosion of the traditional concept of the family. It is becoming increasingly common for both parents to be working and this growing phenomenon is giving rise to a whole new set of problems unique to today?s parents.

One of these problems is the increasing utilisation of maids, and as a consequence, today?s parents often face the dilemma of whether it is right to monitor the maid. If you, too, are facing the dilemma of whether or not to monitor the maid, then this article is definitely a must-read for you!

Installing a CCTV at home to monitor the maid

The Singapore media has a penchant for shining the spotlight on cases of maids abusing children. Thus, it is no wonder that Singaporean parents are becoming increasingly paranoid when hiring a maid. The many infamous cases of parents discovering their children being abused by the maid after installing a CCTV at home makes the case in favour of installing a CCTV at home to monitor the maid that much stronger.

RELATED:?Maid throws baby around like a doll

However on the other hand, parents have to consider the ethical implications as well as the financial costs involved if they choose to install a CCTV at home to monitor the maid. Apart from a serious violation of the maid?s privacy, installing a CCTV at home to monitor the maid could have a negative impact on the relationship between the maid and the employer. Furthermore, there are the financial costs to consider.

Infants are too little to tell parents that they are being abused by a maid

Consider this?

Ultimately, the decision is yours. There is no right or wrong answer, but there are two ways of looking at the situation. In any case, we provide 4 tips to keep in mind if you decide to monitor the maid using CCTV surveillance.

1. Do not install the CCTV in private places

Installing CCTV at home to monitor the maid would already constitute a violation of her privacy, but it is important to not go overboard when doing so. The maid?s bedroom as well as the toilet should be free from the CCTV surveillance. Instead, only install the CCTV in public places like the living room or kitchen and instruct your maid to always take care of the children in the public places.

RELATED:?Are we treating our maids right?

2. Inform and educate the maid

Unless you already suspect the maid is abusing your children and want to catch her in the act, it is important to inform and educate the maid on why you are installing the CCTV at home. This way, your maid will understand your reasons for doing so and this will improve your relationship with her. She will also be aware that she is being watched at all times and thus, she will do her best to take care of your children.

3. Monitor the maid only if young children are involved.

Another important factor is that you should only install the CCTV to monitor the maid if they are taking care of young children like babies who are unable to let you know that they are being abused. There is not much point in installing CCTV if the maid is taking care of children who are able to talk and let you know that they are being abused.

4. Trust your instinct

If you suspect that your maid is stealing money, spiking the food or doing other dodgy activities, then you should trust your instinct and install a CCTV to monitor the maid. If your gut instinct tells you that your maid is trustworthy, then listen to it.

Did these tips help you? Do you have any additional tips to share with us? We?d love to hear feedback from you! Watch this footage of a maid getting caught abusing an infant:

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Source: http://sg.theasianparent.com/monitor-the-maid-should-you-install-a-cctv-at-home-to-monitor/

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