Developing a great domestic helper

Many foreign workers require some type of education or certification to be employed in Hong Kong. Domestic helpers seem to be an exception. Many domestic helpers are very young an inexperienced when they sign their first contract.Most employers understand the importance of training an employee and making expectations clear. Many companies have training for new employees followed by ongoing training as the employee progresses in his or her career. Employers also provide written manuals or standard operating procedures that employees refer to when completing their duties.The same principles that apply in the business world can be applied to domestic helpers as well. There is no reason to assume your home is manged the same as the home the helper is familiar with. Creating a written guide for a domestic helper allows her to understand your expectations. It is something a new helper can refer to in order to avoid confusion and to properly complete her duties. This should not be a list of rules, but a clearly defined list of duties the helper is expected to complete.Training is also helpful. For example, if your domestic helper cannot prepare food to your taste there are cooking classes available at very reasonable prices. Such classes for domestic helpers are usually held for a few hours one day a week. A quick search in Google will allow you to find classes specifically for domestic helpers. There are cooking classes, language classes, and a variety of others.The best employees are well managed and trained. There is no reason your domestic helper should be any different. The best helpers usually stay with their employers for many years and are paid well above contract minimums. Once your helper is trained you will want to increase their salary to avoid having them hired away from you. It would be wise to protect your investment rather than allow another employer to benefit from the training you have provided.One word of caution. If you do require your helper to attend any type of training be sure to schedule it on a work day. You cannot require training on a helpers holiday. Training is work whether it is done in the home or in a classroom and requires compensation.