I am a struggling actress in NYC. I recently met another woman who has offered me free room and board in exchange for working 40 hours per week as her housemaid. She appears to be an up coming banker of some sort in her mid-30s.
The deal seems pretty sweet although I get the impression that she is a bit of a snob. Her name is a Janice, but told me to call her Miss Johnson. She also has asked me to wear a uniform which she is providing. It basically is a simple black dress with black flats. She also asked me to wear hosiery which I think will make my job harder to do.
Does this seem like a fair deal? Her place in NYC is 5 bedrooms and very nice. I will get my own room.
2007-07-25 02:19:08 · 9 answers · asked by Anonymous in Beauty & Style ➔ Fashion & Accessories
So you are only going to live with her and no paycheck at all?? I think it's nice for you to have free rent and free from all the utility bills. But you also might want to make time and get another part time job so you can have some kind of income for yourself. About the Hosiery's i find it a little strange as maybe she has a fetish or something but then again it all depends if you are also going to be serving people or not. If you are serving then maybe she wants you to look at your best which it also includes hosiery's but if you are not serving why do you need hosiery's to clean up a house? it just sounds a little strange to me.......
I wish you the best of Luck!
2007-07-25 02:43:51 · answer #1 · answered by Leila24 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I have an idea, Why don't you say I like your idea of working for her however, wearing a uniform, being so formal etc will make you feel like you are not at home, when the place will be your home as you will be living there. Tell her you need money to do other things as well as room and board and as 40 hours is full time employment, offer to work it but for a salary instead of room and board. My guess is that she wants you living there anyway for conveiniance so may offer you the room and board with a salary on top which is incidentally what you should expect. Also ask to draw up a contract with terms and conditions of your employment. But for f**ks sake if you are going to be wearing a uniform and courtsying to miss johnson you defo need a salary on top of it.
2007-07-25 09:39:50 · answer #2 · answered by ? 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
What everyone else has said so far is true. You should be getting paid to work in addition to free room and board. A few questions you may want to think about. Will this work along with your acting? How will she be if you land a role and need to take time off? Will you be able to work 40 hours a week and still have time to find roles and act? With you living there she may make you work more than 40 hours and could expect you to be at her beck and call anytime she asks. I think you both should be up front on what you both expect from each other.
2007-07-25 09:31:56 · answer #3 · answered by bronzeartist00 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
40 hours per week??? No, that is full-time employment and as such you are due a salary, doing otherwise would be constituted slavery and is therefore illegal. There are plenty of domestic workers in NYC that get a salary with room INCLUDED. I don't know what the going rate is for someone to come to your house that lives elsewhere, but I'm willing to bet that it's at least $15 per hour maybe more.
2007-07-25 09:25:23 · answer #4 · answered by acydskull 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
For a live in maid you are supposed to get free room and board plus a couple hundred cash a week at least. She would be winning on the deal for sure. I wouldn't do it personally because she sounds snotty unless she paid me right that is.
2007-07-25 09:24:59 · answer #5 · answered by Amber 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I don't know. The "Miss Johnson" and the uniform are fine, but maids get a salary, usually, not just room and board. Slaves get room and board.
2007-07-25 09:25:07 · answer #6 · answered by bonitakale 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The wage is good but it depends on how many other ways she makes your life hard. Do you have to not come and go when her friends are around, hiding in your room instead? I'd want to find out more about her personality first and get some things in writing as to exactly what is expected of you.
2007-07-25 09:24:28 · answer #7 · answered by mikeburns55 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
umm i think it is and isn't fair a nice house yeah a place to stay right?but 40 hours a week is time you could be practicing on acting ? plus it may get in the way of a job hey u need money! and the uniform? we let the people who clean our house were anything they feel comfortable in i mean to me the uniform part is weird but its your choice. good luck!
2007-07-25 09:27:23 · answer #8 · answered by ♫♪♥☼ Natalie ♫♪♥☼ 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Yes, if you both get something out of it that you need then I think it is fine. As long as you both feel it is a fair trade, there should be no problems. It's not illegal so I would say, if you need a place to stay, go for it.
Good luck with your actress career!
2007-07-25 09:23:43 · answer #9 · answered by lisadaisy165 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋