Why It Matters
Household staff does a lot of work in the employer’s home. When employees know that they can expect an annual staff review, most look forward to an honest assessment of his or her job performance each year. In fact, annual evaluations often provide unique opportunities that can lead to important discussions about many of the daily happenings that fell by the wayside. Moreover, periodic reviews offer the perfect private moment for credit to be given where credit is due. It is exactly the time for someone in a management role to sing praises that staff members have already earned. Since some domestic helpers primarily work outside the house, review accolades are important for recognizing and retaining all workers who have performed well throughout the year.
Although it is important to always thank staff members during the year, the annual staff review is exactly the time to demonstrate how much you appreciate the work they do and the sacrifices they make for the family. In addition, feedback from your staff is not always easy to get while everyone is fulfilling the daily routines required to responsibly manage a busy home. A household staffer’s day often begins early in the morning or doesn’t end until later that night. In those cases, there is little or no time during the workday for them to take a break and discuss expectations.
Assessing your household staff is critical in understanding and defining future placements.
As the covid pandemic enters its endemic phase and you resume a more normal lifestyle, you may find your needs have changed dramatically. In addition to the staff who kept your household clean, you may have employed domestic support to care for children, prepare meals, run errands, or support elderly family members to allow them to live as independently as possible while aging in place. Conducting an annual staff review forces you to think about what your household needs will look like for the coming year. For example, you may already know that your family will be travelling more often or that as restrictions are lifted you will need to open and staff the lake house for the summer months.
Staff reviews can serve as the reference point around which you can account for and schedule any of the major changes that already know will need to be implemented. Similarly, it can be the perfect time to introduce new duties you want staff members to take on, as well as to redistribute responsibilities based on changes that have occurred. Although an annual review for your staff should be a professional and structured interaction, it is a perfect opportunity to strengthen the bond between your employees and family members. As long as conversations are purely professional, grievances can also be aired to relieve workplace tensions. When qualified, trustworthy domestics are included, it makes it easier to make smooth transitions when it’s time to hire additional staff.
Maintaining Professionalism
Over time, it is easy for high net worth families with substantial assets to think of their staff as members of the family. However, this notion often leads to a failure to follow normal employment standards for routinely assessing domestic staff performance. These common mistakes can not only expose a family to a variety of liabilities, but the flawed practice may lead to unnecessary and unintended staff turnover. For these reasons, a professional approach to assessing household staff performance is equally as essential as it is in the rest of the business world. We understand the liabilities of high-net worth clients and the complexities of conducting proper staff assessments and can provide both templates and guidance on conducting appropriate staff reviews in your home, or how to provide resources to an Estate or House Manager to do it themselves.
Many of the risks of assessing household staffers can be eliminated or mitigated by relying on the expertise of a professional staffing agency. By improperly reprimanding or terminating a member of their household staff, a high net worth family may be at risk to a broad range of legal suits alleging anything from sexual harassment to discrimination. To achieve a lasting and safe relationship between the family and its employees, it is important to follow the same rigorous onboarding and management procedures that are commonly used in the business world.
