Influencer courts controversy over threatening to fire domestic worker for not working holidays

An influencer and podcaster has threatened to sack her domestic worker if she refuses to return to work during the festive season, and it’s safe to say that South Africans are livid.

The woman – Mitchelle Karoro – shared her controversial views on her X account.

INFLUENCER PUT ON LAST OVER TWEETS

In tweets that have gone viral, Mitchelle Karoro revealed her dilemma with her domestic worker’s refusal to return during the holidays.

She tweeted this week: “I told my helper today that she will only be off on Christmas Day and Boxing Day l need her back because for New Year’s because we’re going away to celebrate New Year with a group of friends and she told me that she has to be off on both holidays.”

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She continued: “I then told her to choose either she works on New Year’s, or she leaves work. And since then, she’s not talking to me. Should l just sack to avoid unnecessary drama and stress?”

. I then told her to choose either she works on new year’s or she leaves work and since then she’s not talking to me. Should l just sack to avoid unnecessary drama and stress?

— Mitchelle Karoro (@KaroroMitchelle) November 23, 2023

Needless to say, many fellow tweeps were shocked at the influencer’s “unreasonable” request.

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@Ziggy_Diver1: “She spends the entire year with you, and you don’t think she should be off on both days? Get a house sitter or babysitter and stop it with the entitlement.”

@dramadelinquent: “New Year is a public holiday, so if you’re forcing her to work by threatening her job, I hope you’re paying her double her daily salary. I’m also horrified that you think it’s ok to fire her because she wants to spend her public holidays with her family and celebrate.”

@kokkyt: “How do you not give your helper festive off? It’s family time. Cleaning and doing your own laundry for 2,5 weeks really isn’t that hard.”

You are an evil person pic.twitter.com/rfkcSc7Vn8

— 🇿🇦Zwidenya (@zwidenyapT) November 24, 2023

DOMESTIC WORKER AND ANNUAL LEAVE, PUBLIC HOLIDAY PAY

According to the Domestic Worker Sector of the Basic Conditions of Employment Act, domestic helpers are entitled to the following:

• Three weeks paid annual leave per year (this amounts to at least 15 working days for every 12 months worked); 
• Overtime additional pay: 1.5 times the hourly rate of pay for ordinary days and twice the hourly pay for Sunday overtime
• If domestic workers work on a public holiday, then they are entitled to an additional day’s pay, ie, double pay