1st time to employ a helper....

We're about to employ our first helper - any suggestions or advice? What should we stipulate in the contract?

Thanks

"Mrs Miggins" posted this recently. It might be helpful.



House Rules for Domestic Helper


(DH is short for Domestic Helper)


1. During the time of employment in the DH will be supervised and be responsible to Mrs. X.


2. The employer’s apartment is private property and has many personal and confidential items. The safety of the employer’s family and valuables are very important to them. At no time will the DH allow personal guests to visit the apartment/ enter the apartment without the prior approval of the employer. Also, at no time will the DH give the keys of the home to any friend or relative for any purpose whatsoever. If guests have been in the apartment without the prior approval of the employer or keys have been given to another person, the DH’s employment will be terminated immediately.


3. During working hours the DH is employed to pay full attention to their duties. The use of mobile telephones (both making and receiving phone calls) is not permitted during working hours. When the DH is not working, the employer requests that the DH take calls in their private room allocated to them and that they keep the ring tone low so as not to disturb the other people in the apartment.


4. The security of the employer’s family and apartment is very important to them. The DH will not leave either the back door or front door open at any time apart from when cleaning those areas and will make sure that all windows, back & front door and patio doors are securely locked before leaving the apartment.


5. The personal belongings of the employer are private and are not to be used, borrowed or removed for any reason.


6. The personal business, contents and belongings of the employer’s apartment are confidential and are not to be discussed with anyone.


7. The electric entertainment systems (including television, DVD player, computer, hi fi stereo, camera, ipod, video camera) in the apartment are private property and are not to be used under any circumstances.


8. If the DH is to have a television set or stereo in their room this is only to be used after the DH has finished their working hours. We ask that the DH keep’s the volume of the television to a level that will not disturb the other people in the household.


9. The employer will provide the DH with cleaning and sterilising products to do the household duties. The DH will use the products purchased by the employer to carry out their duties.


10. Please be aware that the X household is a “no smoking” household.


11. The employers telephone is “off-limits” to the DH unless in the event of an emergency, to call the employer or to make an arrangement on behalf of the employer. The telephone IS NOT to be used for making or receiving person phone calls unless with the prior approval of the employer. The cost of any unapproved phone calls made by the DH will be deducted from their monthly salary upon receipt of the telephone bill.


12. The DH will be allowed to give the employers telephone number to relatives for emergency use only.


13. As an employee the DH will pay attention to their personal grooming and hygiene. In particular the employer requests that long hair be tied back neatly so as to not fall into food, get in the way of duties etc. In addition the DH should ensure that their clothes are washed and clean and that they themselves pay attention to their own personal cleanliness and hygiene.


14. The employer will pay for return flight to the DH’s home country as per Hong Kong law governing the hiring of domestic helpers. The employer will not pay for flights to the DH’s home country and any additional expenses incurred should the DH need to return due to family emergencies or problems.


15. Should the DH need to return back to their home country due to an emergency e.g. to attend to a sick father then the cost of this will be bore by the DH and not the employer. Any time taken off work not as part of the annual leave shall be deemed as “unpaid leave”.


16. If for any reason the DH fails to return to the employer on the agreed date following holidays, emergency leave etc. then the employer will have no option but to terminate the DH’s employment and employ another DH to cover the duties required.


17. As part of their duties the DH will be taking care of the XXXX. This may be on a full-time, part-time or babysitting basis. When the DH is taking care of the baby it is essential that they follow the rules below:


a. The DH will be given training and instructions on how to “look after the baby”, that is, how the X family want the baby to be treated and taken care of e.g. feeding, bathing, playing, steralising equipment, cleaning the baby’s clothes and equipment, sleeping and discipline. The DH must follow the employer’s preferences of how they want the baby taken care of.

b. When taking care of the baby, the DH must stay with and focus on the baby 100% and not do any other household chores e.g. ironing, cleaning, cooking or vacuuming.

c. At times you will be asked to bath the baby. When doing so you must stay with the baby at all times and not leave the baby unattended under any circumstances.

d. At times you will be asked to feed the baby. This is a very important duty. You must follow the employer’s instructions on how to do this and what products to use.

e. ON NO OCCASION will the DH shake the baby, shout at the baby or use force when dealing with the baby. If the DH does any of the above their employment will be terminated immediately.


18. The employer will either do the marketing or ask the DH to do the marketing on their behalf. When cooking for the X family the DH will not use any ingredients not approved by the employer in any of the recipes.


19. If there are any accidents in the apartment e.g. breakages, burning of clothes when ironing etc. the DH must inform the employer of what has happened so that the employer can arrange to have it fixed or replaced. Honesty is the best policy!


20. The DH must ensure that after cooking the gas oven and gas stove are turned off to avoid accidents.


21. The DH is responsible for ensuring that their own room is kept clean and tidy.


22. During employment the DH will have food and drinks provided for them. The employer will also provide the DH with adequate toilet paper, toothpaste, soap, deodorant, shampoo & conditioner and feminine sanitary products.


23. During employment the DH will be provided with bed linen, towels and a TV in their room. They may also be provided with other items. These items are for use during the DH’s employment in the household and are to be left behind when employment ends.


24. As per the HK law during employment the DH is entitled to statutory holidays and to one day off per week. The one-day off per week will usually be on a Sunday. There may be a few rare occasions when the employer needs the assistance of the DH on a Sunday. When this happens the employer will give the DH two weeks prior notice and allocate another day as the DH’s day off. Other public holidays will be given at the discretion of the employer. When the DH has their day off, they should be back to the X household by 10pm so as not to disturb the family when they go to sleep and for the employer to make sure that the apartment is secure and locked up after the DH has returned.


These house rules have been made to ensure that there is good communication between the DH and employer.


I, __________________, employed as a Domestic Helper within the X household, have read and understood the above. I understand that these house rules are in addition to the ______________ outlined in the _______________________.



Signed: Witness:





Name: Name:


Date: Date:

I am here in Guangzhou China, working as an English Teacher. I would like to apply as adomestic helper in Hong Kong. I have a Caregiver Training Certificate, taking care of the infant, children, babies and elderlies. This will include also the household management, marketing and major duties as a domestic helper.

I believe that i can offer you a lot, including are tutoring to your children and teaching them right attitude to love and listening to their parents, and importantly is to be independent. I would love to answer your call or to call you for telephone interview. I have an excellent health, a good body figure, 5'6 in height and white complexion. I would love to work there for a long time commitment.

Thanks a lot. Looking forward for your reply.

Sincerely,

Ann Mobile no. 17311764573

I am looking for a Chinese domestic helper to help us look after our village house? There isn't a lot of work to do as there's only the two of us. It should take a quick worker only a few hours a day to run through routine housekeeping items, weekdays only, the rest of the time would be yours, to do as you please. Live in or live out, your choice.

Goodygoose,

What does "a good body figure" have to do with your ability to perform well the duties of a domestic helper?


jfdavey,

As you are a first-time employer you might find the following links helpful:

http://www.immd.gov.hk/ehtml/hkvisas_5.5.htm

http://www.immd.gov.hk/ehtml/faq_fdh.htm

http://www.labour.gov.hk/eng/public/wcp/FDHguide.pdf

Or white complexion...?

Is it the place of the DH to teach the right attitude anyway? I would have thought it was the parents responsibility to teach the child to have the right attitude toward anyone else and that the attitude toward the parents was something they worked on themselves.

She mentions this of course because she knows full well that in HK a lot of emphasis is placed on looks, and as complexions go, the paler the better. I am absolutely sure that given the choice, a lot of employers will choose a light-skinned employee over a dark-skinned one. Before anyone jumps in here disagreeing - how else would you explain that out of the 4 'Native English Teachers' in the area I live are actually not native English speakers, but from other European countries, speaking English with obviously non-native accents and grammar. But they both have blonde hair and blue eyes...

(I appreciate that they are not DHs, but I think this shows the odd attitude HKers have towards the physical appearance of their employees).