Just how much should you give your ayi--if any?

While Tai Tai extraordinaire Tania McCartney packs up her remaining bits and bobs and bids Beijing and her infamous Ayi goodbye (with, I'd like to think, an "it's been emotional" line from a Guy Ritchie movie), the rest of us are preparing for Chun Jie and stuffing hongbao to give to our own ayis.

Or are we?

I probably should know better than to write my first City Weekend blog on something so potentially contentious but can it be true? Are there really expats out there who do not give at this time of year?

I first arrived in Beijing in 2006 at the end of Spring Festival. Ayi joined us in March and so the following year, we gave her a hongbao equivalent to a month's salary which, by my understanding, was customary. However, a few friends were surprised that I did not offer her a pay raise as well. In all honesty, I didn't realise that was the done thing. Nevertheless, Ayi was delighted with the hongbao and never raised the issue.

Sometime later, after hearing the Ayi tales floating around our community, I realised that "direct" just is not the fashion here. It seems that Ayi is more likely to tell you that western cuisine is superior to that of her own than ask for a higher salary.

And so, in the years since, we have given equivalent hongbao followed by annual pay rises for loyalty and good service. After all, Ayi feels very much a part of the family. Everyone is happy, it seems.

But naturally, every household is different. Some expats give nothing and believe Ayi should be happy to have a job and a healthy salary while others give a percentage of the monthly salary depending on length of service. Some, like me, give a month's pay and usual holidays (Chinese national holidays plus our own trips). Some give a month's pay, usual holidays plus two or three weeks 'Chun Jie' holiday. Some give a month's pay plus holidays plus hongbao for Ayi's children and family. The list goes on.

That said, when newcomers ask advice regarding what's the right thing to do, I can only go by my own experience. I recount what lies herein and end with what works for us.

Many have suggested that it really depends on Ayi's level of involvement in the running of your household. If you rely on her to man the fort and be a part-time parent to your kids, that's different to a few hours a week mopping the floors.

Or is it?

After all, ff a job is done well, is it not worthy of reward at a time of year that is so special to Ayi?

Sally Cox-Mulvenney