Have you ever felt difficulty in doing your household work in the midst of your busy schedule? Do you need help to manage your household chores? Here is an idea. Why can’t you employ a housekeeper? A housekeeper is one who has many responsibilities so you have to hire your housekeeper wisely. How to employ a housekeeper? How to manage your housekeeper? You don’t need to get confused. Here are some top tips to employ a housekeeper and manage your housekeeper.
WHAT IS HOUSEKEEPING?
Housekeeping is the maintenance of the household work either by the members of the family or by a housekeeper, the person hired by them.
WHO IS A HOUSEKEEPER?
A housekeeper is a person hired to manage the household chores like cleaning, laundry, dishwashing, floor cleaning, and gardening. Sometimes a housekeeper helps in cooking. A housekeeper is paid for the work done by him/her.
REASONS TO HIRE A HOUSEKEEPER:
1.You have a busy home.
2.You have long working hours.
3.You may be allergic to dust.
4.You have a new baby.
5.You travel often.
6.You need help to watch your pets and children.
7.You don’t like cleaning.
8.You may have regular guests.
9.You have to support older people.
10.You are not good at cleaning.
WHAT IS THE BENEFIT OF HIRING A HOUSEKEEPER?
Hiring a housekeeper will be a benefit in spending your valuable time on what’s important. A housekeeper can be the solution to balance your work and busy life. You can spend more time with your family and friends or more time to relax.
TYPES OF HOUSEKEEPERS:
There are two types of housekeepers
1.Domestic
2.Institutional
A domestic housekeeper is the one who maintains bedrooms, kitchen, dining, receiving areas, garden, and the surrounding area of the house or residential buildings.
An institutional housekeeper is the one who maintains commercial lodging buildings like hotels and resorts.
Make sure to check your housekeeper is insured or bonded irrespective of the type of work they do.
Why are bonds and insurance necessary?
It is important to have a bond if the housekeeper damages or breaks anything in your house meanwhile insured housekeepers will cover if they get hurt while on their job.
What does insured mean?
Insurance covers the injury or damage that occurs during the house cleaning. It gives you financial protection from the housekeeper cleaning companies. If the company is not insured, you have to pay and bear the responsibility for the accident caused while cleaning the house. If you choose an insured company, they will take the responsibility. Any file claimed will be against the company, not on you.
What does bonded mean?
If the cleaning company doesn’t work as promised, doesn’t deliver as per the contract, or steals something from your house, you can collect money if it is bonded. You have the right to file a complaint against the company if any of the above cases occur. The bond company will investigate and claim you the compensation. If the company hired by you is not bonded, you cannot claim compensation. You have to directly visit the company. In some worst cases, the unbonded companies refuse to hear your complaint and refund for payment or replace the stolen things from your house.
HOW TO REDUCE EXPENSES IN CLEANING?
Do you feel that cleaning is expensive? You can reduce the costs by implementing budget cleaning. Many try to reduce staff expenditure while reducing the cost of cleaning supplies is a significant way to reduce expense.
1.Buy products in bulk:
You can get a discount on bulk products. If the quality of the product is good, it is best to buy products in bulk and save money.
2.Do not buy products just to test:
Stop buying products just to test the quality. Instead, ask for samples from the manufacturers or dealers. This will save money.
3.Hour pay vs service pay:
Some worry that while paying an hourly fee, the housekeeper may extend the time for cleaning but in service pay, the housekeeper rushes the work and completes it in time.
4.Choose a professional cleaning service:
Choosing a professional cleaning service won’t be expensive but saves your budget. Professional housekeepers do their service with high quality in less time and thus saving your money and time.
5.Choose a bonded or insured service:
Make sure that the company is bonded or insured. You can claim the amount for the damages caused by the housekeeper only if the company is bonded or insured. Unbonded companies hesitate to give compensation and you will get some loss.
6.Buy quality products:
Good quality products may look a little costly but are more effective, long-lasting, and easy to use.
7.Go with green cleaning products:
A single green cleaning product may replace many traditional cleaning products. You don’t need to buy multiple products and thus save your money. Green cleaning products are eco-friendly and safer to use for housekeepers.
8.Reduce waste generation:
Reducing waste generation helps the environment and also makes cleaning easier and faster. You can organize your desk so that the housekeepers perform their work easily, quickly, and more effectively.
9.Choose right equipment:
By using the right equipment, one can improve the quality of cleaning and reduce the cleaning time.
10.Limit your budget in cleaning:
List out the works you want your housekeeper to do and choose the services according to your budget. Additional work will be charged by the housekeepers.
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF A HOUSEKEEPER:
A housekeeper has to keep the areas clean and neat.
Sweeping the floor.
Mopping the house.
Dusting the shelves.
Cleaning the windows.
Taking care of pets and children.
Emptying trash cans.
Notify any damages.
Some do laundry.
A housekeeper has to maintain all the housekeeping equipment.
REQUIREMENTS OF A HOUSEKEEPER:
A housekeeper should have the ability to maintain things.
The housekeeper should have time management skills.
Ability to work quickly.
Ability to adapt in the working area.
Handle basic maintenance and cleaning.
A housekeeper should have organizational skills.
TYPES OF HOUSEKEEPING SERVICES:
Why should you know about the different types of housekeeping services?
To hire a housekeeper, it is important to know the types of housekeeping services. This will help you to hire a housekeeper according to your needs and budget.
Types of housekeeping services:
1.Cleaner or maid:
A cleaner or a maid might be used for shorter visits. They are rarely available full-time for one property. They may be used in more commercial areas.
2.Live in housekeeper:
A live-in housekeeper is provided with accommodation as a part of the package. It is a very popular type of housekeeping service. A live-in housekeeper may work part-time or full-time. This type of housekeeper is a popular choice as they help in cooking, childcare, and security when the property is vacant. A live-in housekeeper is a high-standard professional worker who can clean and care for the property to the highest degree.
3.Live out housekeeper:
A live-out housekeeper works part-time or full-time. It is a good choice for one who doesn’t have space for a live-in housekeeper. Similar to a live-in housekeeper, a live-out housekeeper is also a professional worker who takes care of and maintains your house to high standards.
4.Housekeeper cleaning companies:
Housekeeper cleaning companies help you to employ a housekeeper. You can reach a housekeeper cleaning company if you don’t want to self-recruit a housekeeper for your home. You can pay the company, in turn, they send a housekeeper to your house. This is a more expensive and lower standard than the housekeeper hired by you directly. This is because the housekeeper cleaning companies take a large amount of the pay themselves and the housekeepers are not paid much. Also, they are unlikely to match full-time work.
5.House manager/housekeeper:
This is a very popular choice for luxury venues or a busy home where a larger team of housekeepers is needed. You can get extra support when a housekeeper is combined with house management. Here the housekeeper is provided with additional house management support. The team includes admin, managing contractors, managing household schedules, and caring for the property along with all household works.
WHICH HOUSEKEEPER IS SUITABLE FOR YOU?
There are certain things to consider while choosing your housekeeper. They are
Flexibility
The size of your property
Live-in housekeeper or live-out housekeeper
The regularity of the housekeeper visit as per your needs
Tasks ahead of specific cleaning
Salary structure
If you were on travel, you need them or your housekeeper needs to take care of the property when you are out of the station
HOW TO HIRE A HOUSEKEEPER?
While hiring a housekeeper, it is important to hire a trustworthy, particularly in the case of a domestic housekeeper since you may be at the workplace or on travel and the housekeeper has to do the work properly. Before hiring a housekeeper, ask for referrals or check the housekeeper cleaning company reviews.
Housekeeper cleaning companies vs independent housekeepers:
There are several housekeeper cleaning companies. They benefit by taking responsibility for the work done by housekeepers whereas, in the case of individual housekeepers, you have to take a look over the housekeeper’s work. Before hiring, make sure that the company you pay or the proprietor is licensed, insured, and bonded.
One of the best ways of employing a housekeeper is to ask your family and friends if they have any housekeeper cleaning companies or individual housekeepers. There are a lot of services where multiple housekeepers are available. You can find a perfect housekeeper or your needs accordingly.
Decide the tasks:
Create a list of works you need your housekeeper to do. Certain tasks like sweeping, mopping, and cleaning are standard. Additional tasks like laundry or dishwashing may be negotiable. Some housekeepers’ insurance limits certain works like laundry, cleaning the exteriors, cleaning the windows, tasks like climbing the ladder and working at a height.
Decide the pay scale:
While hiring a housekeeper, you have to decide the pay scale of your housekeeper. You can give an hourly fee or flat fee. Discuss it with your chosen housekeeper. Some may worry that the housekeepers may stretch their working hours while paying for an hour. While paying a flat fee, the housekeeper may rush the work and complete it faster.
Interview candidates:
You can interview the housekeepers in person. Ask questions and how they enjoy their work. Ask for referrals, check their work history and criminal history. Check their bonds and insurance. Take some time to interview with real questions and make sure to clear everything.
Clear expectations and boundaries:
You will need to clear your expectations and boundaries with the housekeeper. Have a clear idea of what your housekeeper has to do and won’t be doing when you are not at your home. It will be helpful if you negotiate things before the housekeeper begins the work. Make sure the things that won’t be occurring and clear the boundaries to your housekeeper about this. You may have to negotiate a way to request and pay for the additional work apart from the routine work done by your housekeeper. If you don’t want your housekeeper to use your things like telephone, television, and computer, clear it to your housekeeper regarding your boundaries.
Agree for a trial period:
Once you are done with the interview and found a suitable housekeeper for your needs, you can start with a trial period. The trial period can be two to four weeks. It will be a good idea so that the housekeeper will adapt to the working and be used to your expectations. If you are not satisfied with their work even after several visits and clear expectations, you can hire someone to match your expectations.
QUESTIONS YOU CAN ASK IN THE INTERVIEW:
You can ask questions in the interview to check how the housekeeper matches your expectations and benefits you. Look for a staff who is trustworthy and skilled. Here are some example questions to ask the housekeeper while interviewing
1.Why do you wish to work as a housekeeper?
2.What are the things needed for a good housekeeper?
3.How many years of experience do you have as a housekeeper?
4.Do you work part-time or full-time?
5.Are you a live-in housekeeper or a live-out housekeeper?
6.Do you have insurance and bonds?
7.Do you have references?
8.Do you charge hourly or for service?
9.What extra services do you offer?
10.Will you clean the window?
11.Do you do laundry or iron?
12.Can you do multiple housekeeping tasks in a day?
13.What are the chemicals you are familiar with?
14.Do you feel comfortable working when others are at home?
15.Do you offer daily, weekly, bi-weekly or monthly service?
Why do you need to manage your housekeeper?
A happy housekeeper will work giving better results and a positive environment for all around. How you manage your housekeeper will in turn have a huge impact on their productivity and retention. You don’t need to take complete management but take an overview when the housekeeper visits your home, time taken by the housekeeper to finish the task, completion of tasks, and the results.
HOW TO MANAGE YOUR HOUSEKEEPER:
The basic thing is to treat someone the same way you wanted to be treated. Respect is the key that keeps the relationship strong between the house owner and the housekeeper. You should treat the housekeeper in a good manner. Housekeepers are paid for their service and require respect. There are certain ways to manage your housekeeper.
Make sure you do the payment on time without any delay
Be generous with the pay and salary
Create a schedule for time management and clear your expectations to the housekeeper about managing the property
Talk and connect with the housekeeper, ask about their family and social activities. Its shows you take care of them.
Always be polite, say please, and thank you
THINGS YOU SHOULD NOT DO:
1.Don’t urge yourself to hire a housekeeper. Choose the right housekeeper. Take some time to recruit, interview, and go for a trial period before you hire a housekeeper
2.Don’t speak rudely. You might be not at good mood always and your housekeeper is in your home, don’t show your anger towards them
3.Housekeeper deserves respect regardless of being a full-time worker or live-in housekeeper. You should not be rude to them.
4.Housekeepers need time to have their own life and breaks. You should not force them to work upon unrealistic expectations
5.Don’t judge your housekeeper by appearance. An apple looking good from the outside may be rotten inside. Appearance does not make everything.
6.Give a warning in advance if you are going to stop hiring your housekeeper.
7.Be reasonable. Don’t ask them to do additional work like sewing your buttons, cleaning your vehicle. Clear the work schedule and discuss it with your housekeeper in the interview.
8.Make sure that you provide all equipment for cleaning. Your housekeeper may be allergic to certain chemicals. Have a discussion about the chemicals and equipment with your housekeeper
RIGHTS OF A HOUSEKEEPER:
A housekeeper working in the UK has the following rights. The employer must
Give holiday pay as agreed
Not force the housekeeper to work excessive hours
Not work more than 48 hours a week
Have rest breaks
A wage statement or payslip
Safe and healthy working conditions
Pay the agreed rate, at least the employer should pay the national minimum wage
Give notice to the housekeeper if the employment ends
Return to work after maternity or paternity holidays
A housekeeper can have a copy of the agreement with the employer regarding the employment conditions
The agreement can be changed by the employer only if the housekeeper agrees.
The housekeeper can take legal actions on the employer through an employment or industrial tribunal or the civil courts if the employer fails to meet any of these requirements
OVERSEAS DOMESTIC WORKER:
Many domestic workers from different countries work in the UK by entering the UK with an “Overseas Domestic Worker Visa”. This visa requires the domestic workers to be employed for at least a year by the employer before entering the UK. They help their employers to cook, clean, and care for their children and pets.
Some other domestic workers entered the UK as refugees or through spouse visas. The reason why they work abroad is to send their children to schools, to support elderly parents. As the primary reason for overseas domestic workers is to provide their families with financial help, they send most of their wages to their families.
RIGHTS OF OVERSEAS DOMESTIC HOUSEKEEPERS:
Like domestic housekeepers, overseas domestic housekeepers have their rights. The rights of overseas domestic housekeepers include the following
Paid at least with national minimum wage
Can take paid leave
Break during the working day
Limitation of working time to 48 hours per week
Limitation of night work to 8 hours for every 24 hours
Provide adequate work breaks
Healthy and safe working conditions
Claim against the employer if the requirements are not met
According to the draft bill on modern slavery, offenses dealing with forced labour and slavery, maximum sentence offenses from 14 years to life imprisonment
THINGS TO KEEP IN MIND BY AN EMPLOYER:
An employer must keep certain things in mind while hiring a housekeeper. The employer must not do the following
Pay fees lesser than the agreed amount to the housekeeper
Force to work against the bill
Fail to pay for the extra work done by the housekeeper
Excessive or unfair reduction from the pay for transport or uniform
Allowing housekeepers to be threatened or harassed
Put at the risk of injury or ill-health to the housekeeper through the work
Dismissing housekeeper unfairly
Ignoring the complaints of housekeepers about poor treatment
Treating badly for concern raised by the housekeeper
