Employers hire helpers to help with house chores, but many expect helpers to be on autopilot from day one. This is unrealistic, especially if the helper is fresh and has never worked as a helper before in Singapore.
Have a Detailed Schedule for Fresh Helpers
It is good to have a schedule planned in detail for a fresh helper. This will help her know what to do from the moment she wakes up. The timings serve as a guide, not to the tee. Some helpers may take only 30 minutes to wash a bathroom, while some may take up to 45 minutes. The pace of helpers is different, and the size of the house also plays a part.
Understand Different Cleaning Methods
Ask the helper about the way they do cleaning. Different cultures have different ways of cleaning. Wiping a table with a dry cloth or mopping without sweeping is acceptable in some cultures or in some rural areas of underdeveloped countries. Yet employers may not take these cultural differences into consideration and assume helpers are incompetent or lied in their interviews. Some may demand a change of helper too quickly, without giving both parties a chance or time for the helper to learn and transition. This results in wasted money for employers and also demoralises the fresh helper.
Introduce Common Household Tools
Employers may at the start have to introduce the cleaning aids or equipment that a typical household uses in Singapore
Helpers may not be familiar with items such as:
- Bedsheets and mattress protectors
- Vacuum cleaners and microfiber cloths
- Cleaning sprays and sponges
- Washing machine functions and drying functions
A simple explanation or demonstration can go a long way.
We have come across helpers who do not even know what a bedsheet is, even though bedsheets are commonly used in first-world countries.
List Your Household Priorities
List the priorities in your house — taking care of children, cleaning, cooking, laundry, or caring for pets. Every home is different.
Start by listing out the tasks your household requires on a daily, weekly, and monthly basis.
Example:
Daily: cooking, cleaning, laundry, child-minding
Weekly: grocery shopping, deeper cleaning, errands
Monthly: organising storage, cleaning fans or windows
Then categorise tasks by urgency and flexibility. This helps in designing a workflow that is manageable and realistic.
Plan a Daily/Weekly Schedule
Plan a daily or weekly schedule. Put in time for the helper to shower, rest during lunch, and have short breaks in between. Be flexible — as mentioned, the pace of helpers differs.
Plan in mind the work permit regulations:
- One mandatory off day per month
- Eight hours of sleep per day
- Three meals a day
- Time for personal hygiene
Templates Available
Human Dynamics has templates to suit different households.
Download Your Schedule Templates Here:Send download link to: |
