Short Term / Temporary Staff – Summer is Right Around the Corner!!!!!

For many Employer’s of Household/Domestic Staff, this is the time of year when additional workers are needed.   Though not needing a permanent employee, the same quality & skill-set is essential. References, background and personality component must still be of the level of a “long term” candidate being considered.  The best way to be assured of having expectations met…… is to be up front, in the beginning, about the “temporary nature” of the job.

We have seen many family’s indicate they are hiring for a permanent position.  A new member of the “team” comes on board.  In all work environments, people talk, conversations can be over heard or the feeling of being in a new, long term setting is lacking.  Very quickly, this new member of the Household Staff gets the feeling they’ve been mislead……. as to the true “stability” of their new job.  A new worker will feel as if they’ve been taken for granted.  True professionals are not naive.  Though being complemented on how well their doing, they will see and feel there is a predetermined, termination.  A situation like this is always best to avoid.  It can be very unsettling to existing staff and of course, the new person is not a happy camper.  They may have left a stable job, to take on this new position.  Possibly, they’ve chosen this temporary situation over a true “permanent, long term position.”

In this most “unique” of Employer/Employee environments……. the Household, it’s always best to be clear from the get go.  There are always excellent, skilled Housekeepers, Nanny’s, Chefs, etc., who would agree to a short-term arrangement.  An Employer may  pay a slightly higher wage or even a Temp Fee to an Agency…..but it is better to be open & candid.

Glenn Scott Greenhouse