Building A Good Working Relationship With Your Maid/Domestic Helper
Foster Open Communication
Creating an environment where your domestic helper feels comfortable sharing her thoughts and concerns is key to a harmonious working relationship. Encourage her to ask questions and seek help whenever she’s unsure. Open communication helps prevent misunderstandings and minimizes potential conflicts that can affect her performance.
Understand Her Needs
Adjusting to a new home and work environment can be challenging. Take the time to check in with your helper to see how she’s coping. A friendly conversation about her well-being can go a long way toward building trust and understanding.
Exercise Patience
It’s normal for a helper to need time to fully understand your household routines and preferences. Mistakes may happen, and she may repeat them at first. While this can be frustrating, remember that learning takes time. Be patient and provide clear, calm instructions to guide her. A little understanding can help ease her stress and boost her confidence.
Avoid Assumptions
Misunderstandings often stem from a lack of clarity. If a situation arises, stay calm and ask questions to get the full picture before making any judgments. Taking a thoughtful approach will help resolve issues more effectively.
Acknowledge Good Work
Everyone appreciates recognition, and your domestic helper is no different. Offering positive feedback and complimenting her on a job well done can significantly boost her morale. Feeling appreciated will motivate her to continue caring for your household with dedication and enthusiasm.
Supporting Her Connection with Family and Friends
Encourage your helper to maintain contact with her family and friends, as they provide essential emotional and mental support. If she has a mobile phone, allow her to use it for communication. However, you may set clear guidelines, such as appropriate times for phone use, to maintain a balanced routine.
Having a common language helps
You can consider getting a handy phrase book for your MDW, so that she can pick up common English terms or phrases. You can also use the book as a reference when communicating to your MDW.
Teach your MDW the basics of communicating in English or your native language.
If you have a smart phone, download an app that can translate and pronounce simple phrases from English to your MDW’s native language, and vice versa.
Learn some important phrases in your MDW’s native language to communicate more effectively in an emergency.