Common mistakes we make with house helps or maids

There are many mistakes we make in the management of our maids or house helps that leave us feeling betrayed, unappreciated and angry when things go awry. However, a dispassionate look at the issues will sooner than later, reveal more than meets the eye. Here are some of them.

1. Gifts: Gifts are good; they show how much the person presented with such a gift is appreciated. The flip side to this seemingly innocent display of kindness is the fact that one might be inadvertently sending the wrong signal. When you spoil your house help or maid with gifts you might be indirectly sending a message like “I am sorry for all I put you through” or “don’t leave me- you are indispensable! I can not survive without your services”-you just imagine the attitude of a house help or maid who is convinced that his employer is if you like ‘bribing’ him or her? Hello! This is a wake up call or else you would soon find yourself saying ‘after all I did for him/her my kindness was repaid with insults and ingratitude’.

2. Confusing them for family or friends: Unless a house help or maid has literally donated one of their kidneys to you or something that heroic don’t ever confuse them as anything other than a house help or maid period.

3. Pretending to be civil. We sometimes allow offenses to be swept under the carpet because we pretend to be nice or civil-be firm let them know where you stand when they go wrong.

4. Keep promises. Never make the mistake of promising something you know you are not going to deliver.

5. Be yourself: Don’t be any other person to your house help or maid but yourself-they can tell.

6. Do not be dictatorial: Don’t shout orders all the time like a dictator. You can still enjoy the respect and loyalty of your domestic staff whilst being humane. Never physically or otherwise abuse your house helps or maids and if you want their opinion about something you don’t know, do so freely and thank them for their opinion afterwards.

7. Reward good deeds: Mark the fact that I said “good deeds” not hard work – hard work is something you should get if you pay them well.

8. Secrets: Never fall for the temptation of telling your domestic staff any of your secrets you may live to regret it.

Avoid these pitfalls and you will bring out the best out of your house helps or maids.