DH house rules

A few years back there used to be an amazingly comprehensive set of house rules that was frequently published and used on this forum. Does anyone still have a copy ? Or indeed a good set of houserules that they currently use ? (already have Lisa Tong's). thanks

Is this it? http://hongkong.asiaxpat.com/forums/hong-kong-domestic-help/threads/123454/helper-task-list/

I think it was a list created by either mrs miggins or soufflequeen. It covered a whole range of things - not smoking, using TV etc, borrowing money, salary advances, closing windows after 5pm to keep mossies out, and not arguing with your employer because 'we always have a good reason for asking you to do things a certain way'. Was written in a pleasant style and still covered the biggies. Lost my copy - new helper turning up.

I would be grateful for this info. also and any advice about working with new helpers and how to schedule their week! I'm a bit lax and tend to ask for jobs done as I see them, but now my little one is in school, I can get a better routine going.

Some friends suggest that I take a new helper to the YMCA for classes on hygiene in the kitchen, making employers happy, cleaning, cooking or whatever. ...

one of the things that should be included in the manual is how to use appliances i.e. vacuum cleaner, oven, coffee machine, washing machine (how much detergent to put, separate colors, separate delicates (and list down what are considered delicates) etc.

Good point. Thanks!

another point is to be specific and avoid using general terms to avoid miscommunication. each person has put different meanings to different words


example


PROPERLY - what does properly mean? if you say clean the dishes properly, how is it done properly your way?


NEATLY


NICELY


GOOD


REGULARLY - once a month? twice a day?

As Wiz Bang says, extra clarity helps. Don't assume that "properly" means the same thing for you and for your helper.


Then again, give her the benefit of the doubt. If she does it well, fine. If she doesn't, step in. No need to nitpick before you have even seen what she can do.

Thanks again. I'm interviewing my 4th and final person tomorrow and will narrow down my helper search. All of this advice is helping me a lot! Thanks!!

What about this:

House Rules for Domestic Helper


(DH is short for Domestic Helper)


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


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.


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.


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.


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


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


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.


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.


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.


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


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.


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


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.


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.


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”.


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.


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:


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.

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.

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.

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.

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.


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.


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!


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


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


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.


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.


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 would state it this way - SEE ALL CAPS


Also, at no time will the DH give OR MAKE COPIES of 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.


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) and HOUSE PHONE ARE not permitted during working hours WHICH IS THIS TIME TO THIS TIME. 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.


The security of the employer's family and apartment is very important to them. The DH will KEEP THE the back door or front door CLOSED AND LOCKED at ALL timeS 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.


The personal belongings of the employer AND HIS/ HER FAMILY are THEIR private PROPERTY and are not to be used, borrowed or removed BY THE DH FROM THE PREMISES for any reason.


PLEASE PUT IN OUTLINE FORM, PUTTING EVERYTHING IN PARAGRAPHS ALLOWS FOR CONFUSION AND POSSIBLE MISCOMMUNICATION - PLUS IT'S EASIER TO READ


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ON NO OCCASION will the DH WILL USE PHYSICAL FORCE WHEN DEALING WITH THE BABY SUCH AS shake, SLAP, PINCH, shout at the baby or use force when dealing with the baby . VIOLATIONS OF THE ABOVE WILL BE DEEMED AS PHYSICAL ABUSE AND employment will be terminated immediately.

These rules (on paper) will certainly frighten many experienced FDHs here in Hong Kong. I won't be surprised if they'll back out of the contract. New ones from their home country will think this is normal and sign obligingly.

No it is not legally enforceable, however it does state upfront to the helper what you will and will not put up with. I usually put down my own points and then also add in the good points from her point of view so it is more balanced. By putting your cards on the table upfront you save a lot of grief later. Yes, some helpers don't need telling but many do. As did most of mine.

i think house rules are important. it makes everything clear. and also limits the helper in making up stories and finding loopholes ie the employer did not mention to her etc. later on

As cara said: "also, just to state: we have never had nor needed any of that with our helper."


Some of these rules are fine, but quite frankly if you need to spell ALL that stuff out you have the wrong helper anyway. There should not be that big a discrepancy between what is obvious to you and what is obvious to her.

I have a great helper but she still needs things spelling out to her. For example, she has twice lent her friends my money and returned empty handed when sent shopping and she has done a couple of other things. However, otherwise she is great. I've had to spell out a few things to her, doesn't mean she is unemployable.

Hi! I found Part2 of Domestic Helper Guidelines- not sure who forwarded it to me. I found the below very helpful- I modified it for our situation.



GENERAL ISSUES:


1. From 6:00 am – 9:00 pm

2. Saturdays – Same, except sometimes we will take Baby out in the afternoon.

3. Sundays- the first 4 months with the new baby, we would like ½ day of help on Sundays. It is up to the two of you how you share this.

4. You will use the back door except when with Nathaniel, then the front door. All doors must be locked at all times.

5. Windows must be closed by 5:00 pm to prevent mosquitoes from entering the flat.

6. We don’t want you to have any parties or have friends over when we are away. If you want to do something special with friends, please ask us first and we will consider

7. If you are going to stay out overnight, please tell us in advance and be sure the bolts are locked on the back door and you use the front door instead.

8. No use of home phone or computer.

9. Mobile phone not to be used during working hours or when with the babies.

10. Washing Machine only to be used for your clothing, not your friends.

11. No loaning, lending or borrowing of money or advances of salary.

12. If something is broken or not working, tell us immediately so we can replace/repair.

13. If you are uncomfortable in the house, need anything or have questions – tell us or ask.


MONEY:

We will pay you 3,400 a month for salary plus 300 food allowance

We will pay the Levy in advance

We will pay for your health insurance with AIA.

We will also pay for any thing else required by HK law.

When you have all the papers from immigration and receipts from the doctor, insurance, etc… we will pay you for all of that too.

Vacation – we will let you know when we are having a holiday, and you can have your leave to the Philippines at the same time.


SHOPPING:

We will also give you a weekly budget for shopping and household goods – but we hope you will spend much less – so we do want the change. If you run out of money, you need to let us know.


Please save ALL receipts and keep record off all expenses in a notebook

We will want to see the notebook and receipts sometimes – not because we don’t trust you, but because we want to see how much money we are spending.


We prefer if you shop at the wet market and Welcome/ParknShop and try to buy inexpensive food and inexpensive items.


We expect you to buy the household cleaning materials and anything we need. Just save the receipts and write it all down in a notebook that we can see.


If you need something special, please let us know.


Please also keep a shopping list of what we need. For heavy/bulky items I will order online once a month or so (washing powder for example), and we usually go to the supermarket at the weekend, so please write us a list with what we need.


OTHER


The 12 statutory holidays for 2007 are :


1. The first day of January (1 January)

2. The day preceding Lunar New Year's Day (17 February)*

3. The second day of the Lunar New Year (19 February)

4. The third day of the Lunar New Year (20 February)

5. Ching Ming Festival (5 April)

6. Labour Day (1 May)

7. Tuen Ng Festival (19 June)

8. Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Establishment Day (1 July)

9. The day following the Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival (26 September)

10. National Day (1 October)

11. Chung Yeung Festival (19 October)

12. Chinese Winter Solstice Festival (22 December) or Christmas Day (25 December) (at the option of the employer)


GENERAL CLEANING:


EVERY DAY:

Vacuum every day

Clean the bathrooms

Clean the Kitchen

Check the plants to see if they need water


EVERY WEEK:

Monday - Wash the towels

Monday – Change water in all vases and wash the vases too

Monday – Make baby food


Tuesday – Dust the shelves

Tuesday – Wash Baby Sheets and Bed Toys


Wednesday – Clean the balcony and balcony doors

Wednesday -– Make baby food


Thursday – Change the sheets on the bed and wash the sheets

Thursday - Change water in all vases and wash the vases too


Friday - Clean under and behind the bed, sofas, desks, dressers, book shelves, tables, etc…under the carpets, etc…

Friday – Wash Baby Sheets and Bed Toys

Friday – Make baby food


AS REQUIRED:


Laundry:

Detergent:

For Adults: The white box of Persil, only half a ‘scoop’, Cold Wash (MIN)

For Baby: The blue box of Persil Non Bio, only half a ‘scoop’, 30 Degrees

NO fabric softener for Baby


Use Dryer for Sheets, Towels and some adult clothing (I will show you what is okay to dry)

Lay flat to dry for delicate clothing – underwear, bras, certain shirts, I will show you

Hang to dry – baby clothing, nappies – okay to put drying rack outside in garden

Iron and put away – use plastic hanger for clothes

Husband's trousers – put a crease in the front

Wife's trousers and all Jeans –do not crease


Do NOT iron: sheets, towels, baby clothing, underwear, elastic in any clothing (my maternity trousers have elastic at the waist, please do not iron that section)

Dry Cleaning – we will leave for you in a bag with money to pre-pay.

When the dry cleaning is returned – please take out of plastic bags and hang up in closet using plastic hangers.



Plants

Water plants as required.

Orchids do not need a lot of water – only once every 2 weeks or so

Use spray mister to water leafy plants

Use hose in back to water back garden

Dust the leaf of the house plants regularly

Be sure there is no water in the plates below the plants

If you need to re-pot plants – let us know and we will buy soil to use.


ONCE A MONTH:


Wax and polish all wood floors – move furniture and carpets to do this

Wash all walls of bathrooms and kitchen with bleach

Clean all the shoes –dust, polish as required

Polish all Brass – fans, elephants, etc…

Use Special furniture oil/wax on all the – tables and chairs

Wash the covers of the sofa when needed, once every 2 months.

Polish the leather sofas, once every 2 months – we will show you what to use.


SPECIAL THINGS:

We will ask for the curtains and duvets to be dry cleaned sometimes, and other special things done in the flat.

For example – before our parents arrive I will want the entire flat to be perfectly clean with a ‘Spring Clean’

If we go away – we will also ask for special things to be done – like ‘spring clean’ or to re-coat the wooden floors, etc…