Effective Management of Domestic Staff

For people with a high turnover in domestic staff, these are some guidelines that will help you.

MANAGE YOUR EXPECTATIONS
Don’t expect your domestic staff to be you. They can never clean, cook, look after your home, or
care about things they way you do. They can never be like you or your children. They are usually not
well educated, and are doing this work because they have no better options. They are there for the
pay, food and sense of security only. Accept them as the imperfect beings that they are. Be
prepared to be patient, tolerant and forgiving. If not, they will quit!

JOB DESCRIPTION & DAILY ROUTINE
Write down a job description and a daily routine for your staff so that they know EXACTLY what you
expect them to be doing at every hour of the day. Remember to leave time for a lunch break and for
breaks. Remember to give them one day off a week PLUS time to go to worship on Friday or
Sundays if they are religious. If they don’t have any time to themselves, they will quit!

EXTRA RESPONSIBILITIES/OVERTIME
If you give them extra duties that are not in their usual job description, tip or pay them extra for it. If
it becomes part of the job, increase their pay. If they feel cheated, that they are doing more than
they expected or more than you are paying them for, they will quit!

PERFORMANCE MANAGEMENT
Correct them, don’t criticise them. If they were rocket scientists they would not be domestic staff.
Tell them how you want things done, show them the way things should be done, explain the correct
way to do things. Don’t criticise them for getting it wrong. It is a waste of your breath. Instead let
them know the sanctions for misconduct in advance. Such as: replacing broken items or paying for
them, ‘no work no pay’ policy for unauthorised absences, penalties for latecoming etc.. Implement
the agreed sanctions without any drama and they will learn to stick to the rules. Too much criticism
and they will quit!

RESPECTFUL TREATMENT
Don’t shout at them or take out your bad mood out on them when you are angry or frustrated.
Their job is not difficult, but it is hard work with long hours. Shouting and verbal abuse on top of
tiredness will make them quit!

VERBAL ABUSE
Do not insult or abuse your staff, full stop. No derogatory remarks about their appearance or
intelligence. Especially, don’t criticise or make fun of them in front of others. They have a sense of
self-worth too and they will quit!

THREATS
Don’t threaten your staff. You have the right to sack them, there is no need to repeatedly threaten
them with being fired or having their pay docked. It will increase their sense of job insecurity and
financial pressure and they will look for another job and quit!

CARING
Don’t whine to your staff about your personal problems or issues. As far as they are concerned, you
are privileged. In comparison, your problems are NOTHING compared to theirs. They are already
overburdened with issues, don’t expect them to care about yours. If they do, that is a bonus.

SHOW EMPATHY (understanding) & SYMPATHY (care)
Show your staff that you care about them, show empathy (understanding of their situation) even if
you are not ready to or capable of helping them out financially or with time off. Be understanding
rather than uncaring and harsh. A pat on the back, and the occasional ‘pele’ or ‘sorry’ goes a long
way in retaining your staff.

REGULARY COMMUNICATION
Finally, remember that they are human beings. They need regular communication on a daily basis
about what you want from them, how and where they should perform better, and be ready to ask
for and listen to any ideas or suggestions that they have. This will increase their sense of self-worth
and belonging and they will stay, or at least give you adequate notice to find a replacement before
they leave.

SUMMARY
✓ The most important step it to hire the right staff. Interview them, check their references
UNFAILINGLY, register them with the police.
✓ They need training to work to your standards and style. Invest the time to train them yourself or
get them trained by someone else.
✓ They need managing, keep talking to them as professional workers providing a service, NOT as
servants.
✓ If they are dishonest, don’t waste your time, look for a replacement then fire them.
✓ If they make mistakes, correct them rather than criticise them. Give them at least three chances
✓ Find out what they are good at and what they are bad at, focus on the good, tolerate the bad or
find an alternative
The bottom line is that while domestic workers are plentiful and the work is not difficult, it is also
essential to have help for quality of life. The less you are frustrated by the behaviour of your
domestic workers, and the better they do their work, the happier you will be at home. Make an
effort with them the way you do with external service providers and family members. Your efforts
will be rewarded with loyal and long-serving domestic staff. Good luck!

Author: Anonymous (Proudly of African heritage/Wakanda though)