You are the CEO of your household

You are probably also the CIO managing communications with family and perhaps the CFO managing your household budget as well. You are almost certainly also VP of operations, logistics, etc. It is hardly unsurprising if you decided to hire a domestic helper or two. And with all the other roles you play, it can be easy to overlook your new role now as head of HR. 

Many household CEOs make the mistake of thinking that, since they only have one or two employees, human resources – after the hiring and checking references – will take care of itself. Here are a few of the important human resource roles you as HR manager should attend to with your household employee/s:

The clearer and more detailed you can define the exact job description for your employee, the better they can do their job and it will lessen the need for constant clarifying conversations which can stress both of you. Pay attention to the timing and frequency of each task as well and define when and how you will be checking progress. It is best if you can create daily, weekly, and monthly checklists for your employee,  and you can use the same easy checklist to verify the job is well done. This promotes accountability. Encourage a new employee to check in with you about the tasks after each interval to ensure their understanding. Empower employees to give their feedback and to add to the lists.

Small perks can be given frequently and are often inexpensive. They can also be specifically linked to positive job performance. You can promise these rewards if you like but they work even better as unexpected surprises. Try to find something that your employee is doing well every couple of months or so and make your appreciation tangible. Again, these do not have to be expensive. It is the feeling of being appreciated that helps employees thrive.

It goes without saying that you should pay salary promptly and require a signature against receipt of payment – unless you are direct depositing their earnings into their bank account. The easiest way to manage your helper salary and finances is with Lucy – a digital finance app designed by women, for women. Both you and your helper can have free-free Lucy accounts, each with their own Mastercard, and you can set up an account entirely online within 5 minutes. You can automate their salary payments directly from within the app, have a separate card for groceries, and they can also send money home to their family at the cheapest rates in Singapore. One app = less stress for both you and your employee. One aspect of your new role as Head of HR successfully delegated!