Motivating DH

Our new helper has been with us for 8 months now and does an okay job, but does not go out of her way and is not cleaning the house to our standards. How do people keep their helpers happy and motivated and how should I address this situation with her..? Any advice would be appreciated.

Are your standards reasonable? How big is the flat/house she has to clean? What are her other works that (MAY) consume her time thus she can't UP her performance?


I would like to suggest to get her into routine until it becomes a habit and that's when she could take on more . However, that' a bit late for having worked for you for 8 months. By this time she should be familiar with the house, the routine , the lifestyle and the likes. Have you tried talking to her to let her know what you think of her performance? Maybe she thinks she is doing okay, while you feel otherwise.


I hope you won't mind if I revise your question into " What makes me happy and motivated as a helper"-- and equally hope that this could be of help... to all employers.


1. Open communication with my employer.


2. She allows me to grow- grow in the sense that she laid down on the table what her expectations were, and let me ( with TRUST in my capabilities)do the rest. Afterall, she picked me among many. With that, I always see to it that I do better than my last work.


3. She made it perfectly clear that she will address ANY question no matter how silly or absurb they are for clarification ( which she does with grace). And more importantly, if mistakes were made, the wrong doings were the one addressed, NOT the person.


4. What makes me happy is she hired me as a domestic but does not expect ( or worse limit me) me to think as a domestic. She encouraged me to express my ideas, allowed me to pursue what I thought could make me a better person, and therefore a better worker. I never heard her say ( though some told us) that she treats us , her helpers as a family but she is always there for us when we need a "mom".


The greatest motivation however comes from the VERY PERSON that she is.

i find that a small performance related bonus at the end of the month helps as well ..