This paper examines the attributes of Malaysian employers as perceived by Filipino
domestic helpers and shows how such attributions result in miscommunication. Attribution
theory focuses on how people make sense of their world; what cause and effect inferences
they make about the behaviours of others and of themselves. Attribution theory is used to
explain how domestic helpers assign attributes to their employers and how such perceived
attributes influence communication. Twenty Filipino domestic helpers were interviewed
at the Filipino Workers’ Resource Center (FWRC) in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The
individual narratives of domestic helpers were recorded, transcribed and analysed. The
analysis focuses specifically on the attributes assigned by domestic helpers to their
Malaysian employers. The themes/attributes emerging from the narratives and their effects
on communication are discussed. The findings of the study reveal that Filipino domestic
helpers label their Malaysian employers with negative attributes such as abusive, controlling,
irritable, inconsiderate and disrespectful. Such negative attributes bring negative stereotypes
resulting in miscommunication between Malaysian employers and Filipino domestic helpers.