How to manage domestic staff efficiently?

Domestic staff help reduce the stress in your home or day-to-day activities and opens up more family and personal time. Managing your domestic staff would provide effective service and avoid counterproductive situations.

Background Check

In managing a domestic staff, you have to first be proactive and concerned about knowing the background and basic information of your staff. That is why at Morgan & Mallet International we only have the most experienced, trained and reputable candidates.

Before staff begins duties, you can take little steps to know their experiences. Have a conversation with their ex-employer and other guarantors or referees. A clinical test should also be required, before accepting any domestic staff. Understanding your domestic staff’s background would help you in maintaining a good relationship with them and knowing what to expect from them.
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Employee Relations

To manage your staff efficiently, you have to communicate effectively and have good human relations with them. Having a good relationship with your staff means understanding your staff’s needs, communicating with them, and understanding boundaries. You can also reprimand your staff when necessary, but try to treat them with mutual respect and good understanding.

On top of that, have plans for their healthcare or other good plans. Don’t let your staff work overtime without proper arrangements. Encourage them when they do an outstanding job, and regularly say positive words to them. Have regularly scheduled meetings with your domestic staff; where you can instruct them and get feedback. Proper employee relations will bring less employee turn-over, increased efficiency, and loyalty. Have a good and productive relationship with them.
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Rules

To maintain efficiency and productivity with your domestic staff, you need to have rules that guide them in their activities. Let them know their job description and what is expected of them. Reprimand them and in extraneous cases, give a set punishment for wrong behaviors and law breakage. Trust your judgment as their manager, and give them daily achievable goals.

Understand the time it takes to complete each assigned task, and give them a fair and reasonable quota to meet. If you’re providing quarters or accommodation arrangements for some domestic staff, ensure rules are guiding their activities, cleanliness, and living structure. If you hired a married couple, you need to make arrangements that fit them.
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Clarity

Most domestic staff may not be as educated or literate as their manager. Try to be as clear as possible in both oral and written instructions. Pay more attention to your new staff. Monitor their activities and let them shadow an old employee, so they can learn more about working with you.

​Communicate your specific needs, expectations, and preferences. Let them know their work schedules and routines. Try not to be too strict or micromanage your staff. Give room for their creativity, peace of mind, and ability to employ their judgments on issues.

Provide Needed Equipment

In managing your staff efficiently, you need to provide all essential equipment needed in completing their tasks promptly. Cleaning utensils such as vacuum cleaners, surface sprays, wipers, and others, should always be available. All equipment required for the job should be provided easily. Ensure the inventory is consistently stocked with essentials and properly maintained. Also, plans can be set to ensure all equipment is maintained.