LOOKING FOR A HOUSEHELP?
A MOTHER GOING BACK TO WORK AFTER MATERNITY LEAVE FACES THE INEVITABLE CHALLENGE OF WHO WILL TAKE CAKE OF HER BABY WHILE SHE IS AT WORK.
LEAVING ONE’S BABY IN THE HANDS OF ANOTHER PERSON IS NOT AN EASY DECISION. SPECIFICALLY WORRIES RANGE FROM HEALTH AND FEEDING, TO SAFETY AND ABUSE.
EVERY PARENT WHO HIRES A HOUSE-HELP OR NANNY ‘HOPES FOR THE BEST.’ BUT PARENTS SHOULD NOT FEEL ENTIRETY AT THE MERCY OF FATE; WHEN EMPLOYING A NANNY, AND WHEN LIVING WITH HIM OR HER, THERE ARE SOME BASIC PRECAUTIONS YOU CAN TAKE.
Traditionally, parents have engaged the help of their relatives to look after their children; when they embark on their work. There are however, those who choose the services of paid baby caregivers commonly known as house helps. Usually, some of these parents have ended up being disappointed.
In our tenth edition. Vivian a mother of two, attested to this when she explained how her much ‘trusted’ house girl abandoned her six-month-old baby in the house.
In another incident, Maurine a mother of a two-year-old baby, was shocked when her neighbour called her from work; and told her that good Samaritans were passing milk through the window to her baby. She came back home hurriedly only to discover that the house help had disappeared and left the baby locked inside the house. She was dismayed that the house girl did not even consider the fact that the baby could do something hazardous while alone in the house.
Majority of parents attest to these incidents. If not irresponsibility on their part, some parents would even attribute bad behaviour to the actions of the house helps. This is because many parents either fail to choose the right person or mistakenly employ wrong baby sitters due to their affordability or peer pressure. In the end, the parents become depressed. This affects the entire family.
The baby’s upbringing is fundamental and it is when the baby gets her early experiences. Proper teaching as well as imparting of self-discipline can only come either from parents or quality childcare. The unfortunate bit is that good child care takers are hard to come by these days. It is also difficult to find a qualified and learned child caretaker, since no law in Kenya provides for their training.
The following factors should be put into consideration when hiring a house help.
1.Thoroughly establish her identity before hiring
Once you get a person, who is willing to take up a job as a househelp or nanny, it is Important to scrutinize her Identity.
Some domestic workers will claim not to have an identity card. Explanations such as ‘It got lost,’ without a police abstract, or ‘I have never taken one,’ when she is clearly of age, should be bad signs.
Check the details on the identity card carefully. This should confirm age and colloborate information she has already given you verbally, such as her age. Either take notes or a copy of the Identity card.
In addition, some employers ask for or take a photograph of the househelp or nanny, which is also a good idea.
Keep these documents safely.
2. Check References
Before hiring a domestic worker, ensure that you ask for references, for instance past employers, a relative or friend.
Make it dear that you will not hire unless a reference is available.
Once an employee has settled in, it is common for an employer who took references to get complacent and never check the references out. This is a bad move.
3.Hire slowly, fire quickly
A domestic worker hired in a hurry may end up disappointing you. This is because you will tend to ignore some basic important hiring requirements because you are under pressure to get someone to take care of your baby.
The consequences of hiring the wrong person may be extremely grave if your baby ends up in the wrong hands. Not even the security of your job can justify careless hiring.
HOW TO ENSURE SHE MEETS YOUR NEEDS AND EXPECTATIONS
Orientate her
The first thing you must do when a new employee joins your family is to orientate her. Take her around the work place and ensure to explain any special things she needs to observe.
Give clear instructions
Do not give instructions ‘in brief.’ Misunderstandings between many domestic workers and their househelps is normally due to poor communication. Do not assume she knows what you want done, or that because you gave instructions about this, then everything else is sense.’ For instance, it may be obvious to you that once food is ready, it should be served; whereas her view is to wait for instructions to serve when you are ready to eat.
Consider her salary
Underpaid domestic workers and those whose salaries are delayed can become moody and uncooperative. The solution hike is simple: pay a worker what is due to her.
Do not over-burden her
It is easy to think, ‘what has she been doing the entire day?’ Just spend a day at home alone with all the household chores and baby care tasks, then pose and ask yourself, ‘What have I been doing the entire day?’ Therein is your answer to the same question about your househelp.
If you over-burden the househelp, expect to find some tasks undone or some work done in a shoddy manner.
Of course that is not to say that lazy househelps should be condoned! Correct them without displaying harshness. This will make them feel loved and appreciated in the family. It will also dispel any fears and misgivings they might have.
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