Building a good relationship with your domestic helper is an important aspect of ensuring that your home is run smoothly and efficiently. Your domestic helper is an integral component of your household, you need someone who you can trust and rely on. With a happy maid, half a battle is won, allowing you peace of mind and time to concentrate on other things.
Navigating the employer-employee relationship with a domestic helper can be a tricky task. The dynamics of this relationship go beyond the traditional employer-employee relationship. Your domestic helper is not just an employee but an employee who lives in your house and takes care of your loved ones. A harmonious and respectful connection between you and your helper can transform the dynamics of your household, ensuring you have a well-functioning and happy home.
How do you avoid tricky situations with your domestic helper? In this article, we will be sharing with you the Top 5 ways how to build a positive relationship with your domestic helper.
Top 5 Ways to Build a Positive Relationship With Your Helper
- Set Clear Expectations
- Communication
- Mutual Respect / Cultures & Beliefs
- Show Appreciation
- Inclusion
Set Clear Expectations
Household chores and looking after children and elderly can be overwhelming at times. Employers can make things easier to remember by putting up a schedule and reminder in a visible place for their helper. Set clear expectations and instructions from the beginning for your helper, this will avoid any confusion and future misunderstandings. Ask your maid agency for some tips or rules that you can set right from the beginning.
Communication
Communication is key to any successful relationship including your relationship with your domestic helper, regardless of whether they are a Myanmar maid or an Indonesian maid. Encourage open communication, and listen to your helper’s concerns and feedback. If any issues arise, address them respectfully and constructively to avoid misunderstandings. Make sure you communicate clearly your helper’s work schedules. Good relationships always start with good communication.
Mutual Respect / Cultural & Beliefs
Employers need to keep in mind that domestic helpers are from different countries and cultural backgrounds. It is important to keep an open mind and show interest in learning about your helper’s beliefs and cultures. This may include allowing her time to pray, cooking her favorite food, etc…
When it comes to important religious holidays, remember to respect your helper’s beliefs and grant her time off to rest and pray. Employers can also show their domestic helper the Singaporean lifestyle and different types of local food in Singapore. Turning cultural differences into positive experiences will improve your relationship with your helper. Be open to new ways of doing things.
Show Appreciation
Most helpers are incredibly touched by kind gestures and praises. Employers can choose special occasions like a helper’s birthday to reward her with presents or some extra cash to help her family out. On your helper’s birthday, you can buy her a small gift, or during Chinese New Year to give her a red packet. Your domestic helper needs to stay motivated and have a positive mindset, showing genuine interest in your helper’s life will help to develop a healthy working relationship. Invite her to join in your celebrations of occasions like Chinese New Year, Christmas parties, and birthday celebrations, this is also a good opportunity to connect with your helper and have a friendly conversation. Appreciation is often their biggest reward. Give praises when they have done a good job.
Inclusion
Making your domestic helper feel she is part of the family will greatly help your relationship. Ensure that she is comfortable living in your home. Provide a safe environment for your helper to live in and give her some privacy during her resting time. Treat your domestic helper as a family member as she is providing care for your home. Lending her a listening ear if she requires someone to talk to and provide her with some constructive advice will go a long way. Over time, you will reap the rewards of time invested in building a good relationship with your domestic helper.
Conclusion
Even an experienced domestic helper will need some time to learn new skills and adjust to a new family’s needs. Be prepared to adjust expectations as time goes on to improve and manage your helper’s performance. The key to this is to have constructive communication with your helper. Give praises when your helper has done a good job. Be patient, it may be a lot to take in all at once, make your notes so you can refer to them from time to time. Be clear on your instructions to your helper like household rules, salary, and off days to avoid misunderstandings. Building a good relationship brings understanding. Open communication and positive thinking are important factors in creating a positive environment for both employers and domestic helpers.
Are you ready to hire a maid for your home?