would you still want someone with a communicable disease work for you?
By Cutie18f
@Cutie18f (9551)
Philippines
November 3, 2012 1:14am CST
You see I have this helper who comes every other day to do laundry and some other chores. Lately however, I found out that she has athlete's foot. i do not know where she got it, but this woman does not bathe nor shower in the house. She comes at 7 am and goes home at 2:00 pm every other day. I am now worried that she might pass on the illness to us and I am thinking of making her rest until her illness is gone. However, I know that she needs the little money that I give her for doing chores. But I am no longer comfortable making her work there and so I now do the tasks she is supposed to do inside the house since I only let her do the laundry and sweep outside. If you were in my shoes, would you still continue to hire her?
4 people like this
10 responses
@celticeagle (166911)
• Boise, Idaho
3 Nov 12
Did she tell you she had athlete's foot? I would either get her some medicine at the pharmacy or tell her what to get and give her the money. New shoes? I would help her get rid of this. What did you plan to do? Just let her go ahead with this until doom's day?
@jenny1015 (13366)
• Philippines
3 Nov 12
I think your family's health should be your priority. At least ,you are still willing to take her in after she is completely cured of her fungal infection. She needs to understand that if she were put in the same situation as yours, she will also be worried of her family's welfare.
1 person likes this
@jenny1015 (13366)
• Philippines
3 Nov 12
You are most welcome, Cutie! Besides of thinking of your own family's safety, we also take into consideration her situation coz we wouldn't want to aggravate her infection as well.
@WakeUpKitty (8694)
• Netherlands
3 Nov 12
Be honest. Tell her you are concerned about her health and your own as well and to your opinion it's not save to continue work at the moment. Also tell her that if she is not taking good care of her self including personal hygiene (taking a bath daily etc) you fear for the worst (plus she won't get better early).
1 person likes this
@Gretchen522 (715)
• China
3 Nov 12
I think that's depend on you, you hire anyone you like, and if you don't like her you can fire her.Wish you a nice day!
@hereandthere (45645)
• Philippines
4 Nov 12
to me, it's not as serious as tuberculosis and, as you probably noticed with people of hand-to-mouth existence, they will only go to the doctor when they really can't bear it any longer because it's so hard for them to part with whatever little money they have or dread having to borrow money again.
i'm really glad you help her and i think you can just compromise. tell her you want to avoid anyone being infected. tell her how to conduct herself while she's working there. and always remind her to use the medication (soap/ointment) regularly and always practice precaution so it heals faster and she can work properly.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (160663)
• United States
4 Nov 12
This is reasonable if she is treating it. If she is not treating it and cannot afford to she will not get better. If she is not going barefoot in your house she should not be able to give this infection to her. She should cover it with socks or shoes to make sure, though. To completely get rid of it she does need new shoes as well as antifungal medicine.
@artemeis (4194)
• China
4 Nov 12
Athlete's foot is not a communicable disease!
It is merely a skin infection and could be treated locally. Try to be objective and not exaggerate to a point that you are having a bias opinion about this person. She will need a course of medication and observe certain personal hygiene.
Try to understand people and be fair.
@Professor2010 (20162)
• India
5 Nov 12
LOL It is better you tell her to stop working till she is cured of this fully, the maid servants (we call them as this) do work in many homes, as you say this woman does not bathe nor shower in the house.
They carry germs, fungus on their body; better you should not get from her!!!
You should not deduct from her wages for that period on humanity ground
