Whether it’s the nanny watching over your child, the house help keeping things in order, the cook who ensures meals are ready on time, or the driver who gets you safely to work, our lives hinge on their presence.
But here’s the uncomfortable question: Do we care for them, even a fraction as much as they care for us?
The Bare Minimum Isn’t Optional
Let’s start with the basics. If we rest comfortably in air-conditioned bedrooms at night, shouldn’t those who serve us also have access to something that helps them survive a blistering summer?
Rest isn’t a privilege. It’s a necessity. And if it’s true for us, it’s equally valid for them.
Let’s ask ourselves:
- Do we pay them the legally mandated minimum wage, or better?
- Do we give them time off every week?
- Do we offer paid leave and annual hikes?
Sadly, in many homes, the answer is no. And the reason isn’t inability—it’s indifference.
Why Are Our Expectations Fair, But Theirs Aren’t?
We fight for bonuses, protest appraisal delays, and crib if asked to work more than usual hours. Yet when our staff ask for a raise or a break, some of us act as if they’ve crossed a line.
We compare their demands to ours. But here’s the thing—our salaries and their livelihoods are worlds apart.
They’re not saving for exotic vacations or buying the latest gadgets. They often choose between food, rent, and school fees for their kids.
Comparison Without Context Is Cruel
We take comfort in law and policy when it protects us, but too often ignore its absence when it comes to them. Domestic workers don’t always fall under formal employment acts. Many don’t have contracts. Most can’t speak up.
And in the absence of regulation, it becomes a test of character.
Will you do right by them—even if no one is watching?
Go Beyond the Bare Minimum
Here’s a simple thought:
Do you ever carry something back for them when you return from a vacation? It doesn’t have to be expensive. A thoughtful gift, a small token—something that tells them they matter. Now imagine how they’d feel unpacking your bags, seeing nothing there for them after tending to your home for days.
Empathy is in the little things.
And Then There Are the Rare Ones
A friend of mine lost his mother at the beginning of this year. At the funeral, I met their long-serving domestic help, let’s call him B. He had been part of the family since my friend and his older brother were in school. After their father’s early death, B stepped in to manage chores and help in every possible way.
He wasn’t sure of his future now that Aunty was gone. Quietly, he wondered aloud if he’d still be needed.
I told him not to worry. I knew the kind of people this family was. Months later, when I asked how B was doing, my friend said this:
“My brother and I decided the day after our mother’s passing—B will get his salary as long as he lives. Whether he works or not. He’s family.”
Not Everyone Can. But Can More of Us Try?
You don’t have to go that far. But can you:
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Give your staff fair compensation and proper rest?
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Help them in a medical emergency?
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Support their children’s education if you can.
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Show them dignity every single day?
Most of us have had a few great bosses and a few we’d rather forget. But the table turns when it comes to the people who work for us.
You’re the employer now. You’re being watched. Judged. Remembered.
Will your name come up with a smile or a sigh?
Takeaway
Being good to those who work for you isn’t charity—it’s character. Ultimately, how we treat the most vulnerable defines who we are, not what we do.
About Me
I am a thinker at all times. I see, I think. I hear, I think. I read, I think. Every weekend I write. I would love to know what you think.