In a house, the boss, when going over “responsibilities” with a new/prospective employee, may say: “you’re going to do cleaning, laundry & cooking. Also, help with the kids when necessary and oh! our linens and bedding are changed twice a week…..I almost forgot, my husband’s shirts are done at home. He can’t stand the way the ‘cleaner’s’ do his shirts & they come back with buttons missing all the time.” This is not a good practice. Try to be as specific as possible. You can begin with tasks starting in the morning. IE: “first thing you’ll do is empty the dishwasher from the night before. Next you go upstairs and make sure the kids are up and getting ready for school. Preparing breakfast and feeding the dogs is next. While the kids are eating their breakfast, make sure their book bags are ready, coats, scarves also.” Continue the conversation with going through a typical days chores in the order which your household’s needs are best addressed. It’s always a good idea to have a written and itemized list of expected, daily expectations. This is not as easy as it sounds…but no one knows your house better, than you. Including “break time” is important. A potential employee should know, you are reasonable and do care about their work load. Making sure you emphasize their need to sit down for a quick lunch, dinner etc goes a long, long way. Believe it or not, this is one of the most common complaints we hear from housekeepers; “there’s never anything for me to eat or I never have a minute to sit down for a sandwich.”
The point is, not everything is about salary or money. Most quality candidates, who have the skill set and experience your seeking, want to be treated with dignity and know their basic needs are important to their boss. An experienced household/domestic worker understands their roll in the household. It’s showing your an experienced employer of household staff that will help you land a candidate who will meet your requirements, take pride in their job and want to make their boss happy. A housekeeper or nanny is not looking for a friend or particularly sweet, kindhearted boss. Their seeking a stable, organized environment and an occasional pat on the back.
Bottom line; Being as clear and detailed as possible upfront, will avoid many problems down the road!!
Glenn Greenhouse
View Comments
We put lots of time in creating a Household Handbook. As an Executive Assistant, all potential employees are shown the expected responsibilities, for the position we're seeking to fill. I always make sure all details of the job are clearly spelled out, before a candidate meets the boss. This practice has helped with the staff turn-over problem we were having, before the creation of the Handbook. Your on the right track Glenn!!
Thanks Stacey for your comments. I've seen quite a few Handbooks/Manuals put together to better run a household.
I can imagine the time and effort that goes into it......and also how beneficial and helpful such management tools end up being.