DON’T USE A MINOR
Ensure that your house help is of legal age, a minor as help will likely struggle to handle chores to your expectations. Additionally, having a minor as house help can lead to legal trouble.
USE A RELIABLE AGENCY/AGENT
Reach out to people whom you know have had their house helps for a considerable amount of time with little or no problem. Make sure whatever agency/agent you use was referred by a reliable friend who has used them.
DO A THOROUGH BACKGROUND CHECK
Don’t be too quick to take new help. Take your time to run a background check and discover all necessary information about the new help before finally making the offer. If possible, get information about their previous employer, reach out to them if possible and satisfy your curiosity.
CONDUCT MEDICAL TEST
Conducting a comprehensive medical test for potential house help is crucial and should not be overlooked. This test should cover important screenings such as Hepatitis B and C, HIV (I and II), Tuberculosis, and a pregnancy test for female candidates.
DON’T BE FAST TO TRUST
Don’t start handing over your kids to new house helps immediately 100%. Let trust be earned gradually and even after that, ensure you always monitor all of your child(ren)’s movement.
KEEP RECORDS
Ensure you maintain some records. For instance, insist on getting passport pictures, the details of his/her guardian, that way you have a reference.
DETERMINE TO TREAT THEM NICELY
Ensure that you treat your live-in help fairly. How you treat your house help can influence their loyalty and behavior towards you and your children. Do not deprive them of food, refuse to pay their salary, or treat them like prisoners.
