Essentials for recruiting the much desired help in the New Year.

Yayy!!! It’s the New Year already… and alongside our plan action areas for immediate execution, is the need for a new maid or domestic help or househelp ( whatever parlance used, we say there’s dignity in the labour and the term used shouldn’t cast that aside). This need arises year in year out in certain parts of the world (for example Nigeria) as some of the ones employed last year seem to love to migrate in a major exodus to their villages or towns for the festive season and for some reasons (not necessarily justifiable) best known aren’t back in good time for work resumption (as required by the employer)

Bearing the urgency and teething need to start work, get into the productive groove for the New year and manage our homefront in mind, the following are checklists :

1. Contact an agency that is vouched for: Right now in certain parts of the globe, the househelp or domestic help sector still requires some formalisation (though just recently founded is @ahemnigeria by Mrs Elizabeth Ajetumobi focused on curbing the existing lack of structure in the Nigerian space). Yet as formalisation and structure is in progress, let’s utilize good ol’ word of mouth referrals. Make sure you are referred to serious minded agents with history of professionalism and transparency so you get the best desired outcomes !

2. Ask questions : Please… no matter how saintly looking the potential household help looks, please make sure you ask to get certain pertinent information. For instance ask about the previous employer, how long worked at previous place of employment and reasons for exiting, details of guardian within state of employment and so on… (stay tuned for…or check our past post …)

3. Don’t disregard medical tests… Yes please, don’t! In this COVID19 times, more than ever, let’s take steps to know on a first hand basis the state of physical wellbeing of the househelp selected for engagement. Though it takes doing the PCR (Polymerase to fully confirm the COVID19 status of a person- which in some parts of the globe is quite expensive and not easily accessible, eliminating for other diseases while we utilize the respiratory tract breath test (check and isolation technique is greatly advised. Engaging a perfect stranger into our homes and to assist with child care (in some cases), in these times requires utmost care and conducting medical tests is one way to ensure care.

4. Necessity of background checks and keeping records: As much as possible, please do necessary background checks and keep records. In the Nigerian space, http://www.checkmypeople.com is a platform built to enable such checks. In the nearest future, the platform would even be more informative in giving insight about candidates for domestic help recruitment across the country. In the interim, try to visit or send a reliable representative to visit if the existing location of the candidate’s guardians is within proximity and reach out to previous employers if that number is readily available (rarely available from our past interactions with some maids/househelps within the Nigerian space). A way to keep records is through the BVN (Bank Verification Number) and paying only through a bank account not in cash. Basically let’s never be in the dark about the domestic househelps we bring into our homes; Never…! God help us…!

5. Onboarding bearing in mind safety and hygiene: The COVID19 pandemic ravaging most parts of the world has made it an absolute necessity to not just focus on cleanliness but safety and hygiene practices in the process. As we are continually encouraged to use our masks, wash hands/use hand sanitizers continually and consistently, let’s make it a point of duty to ensure that the househelp applies such precautionary measures as often as necessary. Do not let your guard down please; you still have the primary duty of care in your household.

6. Cultivating trust : Trust as written in the previous post enables to a very large extent a successful employer-domestic help relationship. This doesn’t negate or disregard the existence of mean, irresponsible devious, wicked individuals seeking only to exploit unsuspecting employers (as seen severally from news broadcasts), yet in situations where the help is sincere and seeks to serve, we must learn to act in ways to ensure trust is built. It is argued that communication builds trust. (Please read previous post for more on building trust in an employer-domestic help relationship).

So…, please share in comments section if the aforementioned information has been helpful or any additions that you would have loved to see in write-up. Your candid opinion is very welcome!