Domestic Helper First Day of Work: 12 Tips to onboard new maid
A comprehensive guide on easing your new domestic helper into your home
By Gwyneth Goh -
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Perhaps you are wrangling multiple children at different life stages. Or you need an extra pair of eyes and hands to ensure that an elderly parent is taking his or her medication as prescribed. Many busy families in Singapore have been counting on their domestic helper to keep household operations in decent shape.
For the uninitiated, orientating a new domestic helper – especially if she’s your first – is an intricate affair, much like the human resources induction programme at certain workplaces.
New Maid & Domestic Helper Guide
Do it well and you’ll be off on the right foot with your, well, right-hand person, and she can manage tasks more efficiently and confidently. Here is a detailed orientation to-do list to consider so both you and your new maid or domestic helper can go about the coming days more organised and productive.
1. Give your new helper a home tour
Physical orientation is the first and most obvious box to check off. Familiarise your new helper with every nook and cranny of your home, introducing key areas, exits and storage spaces.
Labelling things around the house and furniture, like drawers, cupboards, and hidden storage spaces, can help her locate more obscure items. Printing out a detailed map can also be helpful, particularly if you have a large home. The tour does not end at home though.
Take her around the neighbourhood, pointing out important landmarks such as the garbage disposal area, bus stop, grocery store, coffeeshops or food courts and the nearest clinic. It will take time for anyone to remember the lay of the land so be patient with the process.
2. Give new maid access to house
Let’s not forget as well that your new helper will need her own set of keys to your home or be registered on your digital door lock. Show her everything she needs to know when entering or exiting your home such as how to scan the access card, scan her fingerprint or use a security code, and how to lock the door.
Also, get your new maid set up on your Wi-Fi network immediately so she can get connected with loved ones at home and assure them that she is settled in safely. Provide her with a phone if she doesn’t have one so she can reach you whenever required.
3. Set reasonable expectations
When giving your new domestic helper access to your home, you might want to let her know if guests (and who) are welcome – with permission – on her days off. And if you have an active toddler or frail elderly person at home who needs close supervision, remind her to minimise phone usage when caring for them.
Note that your helper’s mobile phone is her personal property (Ministry of Manpower Employment Guidelines linked), so you should not withhold her phone.
4. Domestic helper handbook
Being able to present your new maid with an employee handbook on arrival would be ideal. Even if you have no time to write down every single detail, this little manual can be where she takes down notes while learning on the job.
The handbook can include the family’s schedule and step-by-step instructions on common tasks such as how to operate the washing machine, safety protocol, hygiene guidelines and even frequently-used recipes. Relate this to your own job – when someone gives you a clear and detailed brief, you are more likely to deliver on the assignment.
5. Familiarise helper with technology
You can often find a huge number of devices and appliances in a typical household in Singapore – some can even be controlled remotely. For a new and inexperienced domestic worker, these high technology household cleaning and kitchen appliances can be foreign and intimidating.
Take the time to introduce your new helper to the appliances at home, from the induction stove and washer-dryer to air purifiers, floor cleaners, lights and fans. Err on the side of over-explanation, and invite her to test out everything and raise any questions that come to mind in your presence.
6. Brief new maid on safety protocols
It is important to prioritise your helper’s well-being. As such, don’t assume that she has existing knowledge; instead, train her personally. This includes showing her the items or materials that can or cannot be microwaved, how to prevent household fires (like how to rest the hot iron) and what to look out for to ensure your young child’s safety.
At the same time, give clear instructions on what to do in an emergency, such as who to call and where to go. Have a first aid kid at home, and show her how to use it. You can also send her for a first aid course for good measure.
7. New maid health and hygiene
With Covid-19 still lingering in the community, it is prudent to remind your helper about masking up in crowded places (and if she feels unwell), handwashing and hand sanitising to reduce the risk of getting infected.
Also, teach her about food hygiene and handling – from separation of raw and cooked food to safe reheating and understanding expiry and ‘best before’ dates. If you have pets and kids, you will also need to brief her on your preferred ways to clean up certain messes such as bedwetting incidents.
8. Explain your family's lifestyle
Family culture might be hard to explain in one sitting, but important to communicate to your new domestic helper over time in easily understood terms.
Perhaps you have religious traditions that you need her to understand, or certain quirks that your new maid needs to expect from frequent visitors like your parents or in-laws. It could also be more practical matters such as the particular way your husband likes his shirts pressed, or a certain order you need your books to be arranged on the shelf.
At the same time, making an effort to understand and respect your helper’s traditions and customs, and making allowances for them, can go a long way towards making her feel comfortable in her new surroundings.
9. Children and pet timetables
Caring for your beloved human and fur babies can be a huge and exhausting task. Make childcare easier for your new helper by detailing the child’s wake-time, curriculum hours at preschool, nap window and so on.
The same daily timetable can be done up for your pet, such as when to walk the dog, grooming needs and what sort of food to dispense at certain hours of the day. Be specific about hard rules, such as no screen time for the toddler or dietary restrictions for the pet.
10. New maid cooking crash course
We all know how a good homecooked meal can instantly lighten the atmosphere at home. Share your expected meal times and favourite dishes, preferred recipes, food allergies, and special likes and dislikes with your new domestic helper.
If your premium kitchen appliances, cooking pots and pans require special care, be sure to mention that ahead of time. If you aren’t much of a home cook, consider sending her for cooking classes to pick up some local cooking techniques and recipes.
11. Maid work and rest hours
According to the Ministry of Manpower (Maid rest day guides hyperlinked here), all domestic workers are also entitled to one day off per week, which can be compensated in-lieu if they choose to work instead. However, all employers need to give their helper at least one day off a month, which cannot be compensated for with extra salary.
For simplicity, you may wish to stipulate fixed work and rest hours, or keep them flexible with mutual agreement. Refer to MOM’s guidelines (linked) on accommodation, nutrition and medical and vaccination needs of domestic workers to get a good baseline on ensuring her well-being.
12. Language translation apps
English might not be your new helper’s first or even second language, so communication in the early months might be rough. However, you can use mobile app translation technology to your advantage, and your new domestic helper should also do the same so you can establish good two-way conversations.
Encourage your new maid to approach you with questions, even if you may take some time to understand each other.
Troubleshoot any mistakes in simple language as soon as you notice them, and have frequent easy chats to build rapport. There are also English courses that your helper can attend, whether online or in the classroom on her days off. If you are ever stumped, think about a positive relationship you’ve had with a superior at work, and emulate that with your new helper.
This article first appeared on Singapore Women's Weekly.