Prior to welcoming your maid into your home, perhaps drawing up a list with your spouse might be a good idea. Your list could include the duties she is supposed to do, your expectations of her performance, house rules, etc. It is important to be as detailed as possible so that your maid doesn’t have trouble understanding what is expected of her. Keeping a copy and handing her another copy enables both, you and your maid, to use the list as a check list. Handing your maid the list on her first day ceases complications that may arise in the future such as confusion over duties, working hours, etc.
1. Privacy - Make clear to your maid that privacy is very important. Therefore, actions such as inviting fellow maids or other persons when nobody is at home, is not allowed.
2. Give her space - As much as you value your privacy, your maid also value hers. Do not pry into her personal affairs such as letters, phone calls she makes on her mobile phone when her working hours are over, where she goes, etc. The children should also be taught to respect her privacy. However if your maid is showing signs of depression, anxiety, perhaps it is time to see what is wrong.
3. Respect - Respect is very important. Your maid is working for you but that is not a reason to disrespect her and treat her unfairly. Children imitate their parents’ actions. Therefore, respecting your maid does not only ease the relationship between you and your maid but you are also setting a good example for the children. Respecting your maid and treating her fairly can even bring about better results in her work attitude. Mrs. Lim, a business owner, shares of her former maid. “We treated her like one of the family and she had no problems settling in and at times even went the extra mile to get things done for us”.
4. Religious Beliefs - Let her take the day off on her religious holiday, so she can visit her place of worship. Also, don't force your maid to do something (like eating meat), if it's against her religious beliefs.
5. Talk - Communication between you and your maid is very important. Being approachable allows your maid to trust and even confide in you. If you find something your maid is doing something against your rules, tell her immediately. Keeping it inside will only make the problem worse and hard to resolve. If she has made a mistake, talk to her calmly in private. Raised voices can only cause distress and negative feelings.
6. Rest - A well-rested employee is more productive and better adjusted. Hence, you should ensure that your worker has sufficient rest, especially during the night and days-off. A happy and well-treated worker will give you less trouble than one who is unhappy! You don’t need to have good luck or keep your fingers (or toes) crossed to get a good maid. All you need to do is manage your maid properly and she will find it a delight to work for you. Getting along with your maid and being able to trust her will keep you at peace at work.
Below is an example of common house rules and expectations for a House Helper:
1. Privacy - Make clear to your maid that privacy is very important. Therefore, actions such as inviting fellow maids or other persons when nobody is at home, is not allowed.
2. Give her space - As much as you value your privacy, your maid also value hers. Do not pry into her personal affairs such as letters, phone calls she makes on her mobile phone when her working hours are over, where she goes, etc. The children should also be taught to respect her privacy. However if your maid is showing signs of depression, anxiety, perhaps it is time to see what is wrong.
3. Respect - Respect is very important. Your maid is working for you but that is not a reason to disrespect her and treat her unfairly. Children imitate their parents’ actions. Therefore, respecting your maid does not only ease the relationship between you and your maid but you are also setting a good example for the children. Respecting your maid and treating her fairly can even bring about better results in her work attitude. Mrs. Lim, a business owner, shares of her former maid. “We treated her like one of the family and she had no problems settling in and at times even went the extra mile to get things done for us”.
4. Religious Beliefs - Let her take the day off on her religious holiday, so she can visit her place of worship. Also, don't force your maid to do something (like eating meat), if it's against her religious beliefs.
5. Talk - Communication between you and your maid is very important. Being approachable allows your maid to trust and even confide in you. If you find something your maid is doing something against your rules, tell her immediately. Keeping it inside will only make the problem worse and hard to resolve. If she has made a mistake, talk to her calmly in private. Raised voices can only cause distress and negative feelings.
6. Rest - A well-rested employee is more productive and better adjusted. Hence, you should ensure that your worker has sufficient rest, especially during the night and days-off. A happy and well-treated worker will give you less trouble than one who is unhappy! You don’t need to have good luck or keep your fingers (or toes) crossed to get a good maid. All you need to do is manage your maid properly and she will find it a delight to work for you. Getting along with your maid and being able to trust her will keep you at peace at work.
Below is an example of common house rules and expectations for a House Helper:
- Tie up your hair neatly at all times when working so that you don’t look messy.
- Do not wear sleeveless or sexy clothes when you are working. For accessories, ring or watch is OK.
- Take a bath every day and brush your teeth at least twice a day. Change your clothes whenever it’s dirty, and make sure you have no body odor.
- No smoking. Don't apply strong perfume or liniment please.
- If you are not feeling well, let us know so we could address the problem.
- Always keep your room neat, clean, and tidy.
- You must always keep your finger and toenails short and clean. Cut your nails in the bathroom.
- Always wash your hands with soap after using the toilet, after doing your chores, after eating, when we come home from outside, before cooking, before preparing, and before feeding/taking care of the baby.
- Never eat in the bedroom.
- Listen carefully to instructions and follow. Please do not argue with us when we give you instructions. Since we are the employers, things will be done our way.
- Be humble, mature, and responsible. If we tell you that you have done something wrong, apologize and do it correctly next time. Apologize by saying “Sorry”, not “Yeah” or “Ok.” Remember your mistakes and do not repeat them again, or we will just be wasting each other's time.
- Be polite and greet everyone who comes to our house or when we visit their houses.
- Please do not talk to outsiders without our permission.
- You cannot open the door to any stranger without our permission. We will tell you if someone is coming.
- Answer the phone if you are alone at home, and not busy with the baby; it will usually be us. If it is someone else, just say we are not home and ask them to leave their name and phone number to you then we will call back later. Remember not to give our cell phone or home phone numbers to any stranger or someone who called from outside.
- You can only enter our rooms if we tell you to. If you need to do something inside, like taking care of our baby or cleaning and tidy up, ask our permission first.
- You cannot let the baby go to the kitchen, balcony, roof—top or outside of the main door without our permission. NEVER keep the baby out of your sight when you and the baby at home or go outside.
- You are given your own soap/shampoo. Do not use any of the toiletries/stuff in the bathroom and the cosmetics in our bedroom. There are only for our own use and our guests. Aside from the soap/shampoo given to you, you are only allowed to use hand soap and toilet paper in the bathroom.
- You cannot watch TV, play games, browse FB, read book or the newspaper when you are supposed to be doing your work or taking care of the baby. You can do the mentioned activities after you have finished your chores.
- Please do not use any of your traditional ways on us or the baby, as these may not be applicable to us. Just follow our instructions and do your job well.
- You can only use your cell phone after working time, or if we allow you to rest earlier. Your cell phone must be off and kept away during your working time. We do not want you to be distracted when taking care of the baby. If you break this rule, we will keep your cell phone and not allow you to use it.
- Please tell us if you hurt yourself. We want you to get treated immediately in the right way. Do not use your own medications. We will give you ours.
- What happens inside the house or the things we talk about inside the house must be kept private. This is a simple respect to us.
- Always be honest and tell the truth. Please do not lie to us about anything. If we find out that you lied, you will break our trust, and we will have a problem.
- NEVER steal anything—clothes, things, money or food from us or anyone else. If you steal, we will send you to the police and make sure you will GO TO JAIL.
- Taking care of the baby is your most important job. You have to take care of her well, then do housework.
- If you think the baby is sick, tell us immediately.