Employing household staff can be an incredibly rewarding experience for both the employer and employee. Not only does it provide much-needed support to busy households, but it also allows employers to build relationships with people who have diverse backgrounds and experiences. That said, there are many things that employers should consider before they bring new staff into their homes. Let’s take a look at five of them.

1. Understand Your Legal Requirements
It is important to understand the legal requirements that come with employing household staff, such as tax payments, minimum wage requirements, and other applicable labor laws. This will ensure that you are compliant with all regulations and avoid any potential legal issues in the future. It is important to remember that each country or state has different laws regarding employment—so be sure to research the specific regulations in your area before hiring anyone.
2. Develop Clear Job Descriptions
Having a clear job description for each role you need filled is essential for ensuring your expectations are properly communicated from the start. This will help ensure that your employees understand what is expected of them from day one and provide clarity when managing their performance throughout their employment.
3. Provide Adequate Training
Providing adequate training for your employees is critical for ensuring they know how to perform their job duties safely and efficiently—especially if they are working in a potentially hazardous environment like a kitchen or around any type of machinery or tools. Depending on the specific role, you may need to get additional certifications or licenses in order for your employee to legally work in certain roles like childcare or medical caretaking positions.
4. Establish Boundaries
Establishing boundaries between yourself and your employees will help maintain professional relationships while still allowing everyone involved to have a comfortable working environment. It’s important to make sure that everyone understands what is acceptable behaviour while they are on the job so that there are no misunderstandings down the line about what is expected from both sides of the relationship.
5 . Review Their Performance Regularly
Regularly reviewing an employee’s performance can help keep them motivated and open up opportunities for improvement when needed—plus it gives employers an opportunity to recognise good work! Performance reviews also give employers insight into how their staff feels about certain aspects of their job so they can better address any issues that may arise over time.

Taking on household staff can be incredibly rewarding when done responsibly. By understanding your legal requirements, developing clear job descriptions, providing adequate training, establishing boundaries, and reviewing performance regularly, employers can ensure that both themselves and their employees have an enjoyable experience all around! Doing this will ultimately create positive relationships between employers and employees while helping both sides reach success in their respective fields!

When it comes to maintaining a clean and organised home, there are many options available to homeowners. However, the nuances and differences between a housekeeper working in a high net worth home versus a cleaner that works for a cleaning agency that charges by the hour for their services can be significant. In this article, we will explore the differences between these two types of services and the benefits they offer.

Housekeeping Services
Housekeeping services typically cater to high net worth individuals and families who require a more personalised and tailored cleaning experience. Housekeepers are trained professionals who are skilled in the art of cleaning and organising a home. They work directly for the homeowner and provide a range of services that go beyond basic cleaning tasks.

Housekeepers are responsible for managing all aspects of household chores, from cleaning and laundry to grocery shopping and running errands. They are highly skilled and have a deep understanding of the unique needs and preferences of their clients. They often work long hours and are expected to be available at all times to ensure that their clients' homes are always in pristine condition.

Cleaning Services
On the other hand, cleaning services typically cater to a wider range of clients and are more affordable than housekeeping services. These services are usually provided by cleaning agencies that charge by the hour for their services. Cleaning services are ideal for homeowners who require basic cleaning tasks and do not need the more personalised and specialised services offered by a housekeeper.

Cleaners who work for a cleaning agency are trained professionals who have experience in cleaning homes, offices, and other commercial spaces. They typically work in teams and use advanced cleaning equipment and techniques to provide a thorough and efficient cleaning experience. However, they may not be as familiar with the unique needs and preferences of individual clients as a housekeeper would be.

Which One is Right for You?

Choosing between housekeeping and cleaning services ultimately depends on your individual needs and preferences. If you require a more personalised and specialised cleaning experience, then a housekeeper may be the best choice for you. However, if you require basic cleaning tasks and are more cost-conscious, then a cleaning service may be a more suitable option.

In conclusion, both housekeeping and cleaning services have their unique benefits and advantages. By understanding the differences between these two types of services, you can make an informed decision and choose the one that best suits your needs and budget.

For high net worth families, having an experienced and reliable personal assistant can be invaluable. From managing their daily activities to providing support for family members, personal assistants play an important role in helping their employers live a comfortable lifestyle. Here’s a look at the responsibilities of private family personal assistants.

Organizational Responsibilities
One of the primary duties of a private family personal assistant is to organize their employer’s day-to-day life. This includes managing calendars, scheduling appointments, making travel arrangements, and coordinating with other staff members. Assistants may also be responsible for filing paperwork, taking notes during meetings, and performing administrative tasks like data entry or document preparation. Any tasks that need to be completed on a regular basis should fall under the scope of this position.

Family Support
In addition to administrative duties, private family personal assistants are often tasked with providing support directly to family members. They may help monitor children’s educational progress or coordinate extracurricular activities for them. They may also run errands or take care of any other needs that arise within the household. It is important for these assistants to have excellent organizational skills as well as strong interpersonal communication abilities in order to effectively handle these kinds of tasks.

Other Duties
The exact duties of a private family’s personal assistant will vary depending on the specific needs of their employer’s household. In some cases they may be asked to manage household finances or oversee repairs and maintenance jobs around the home. They may also be responsible for handling vendors or contractors who work with the family on special projects or repairs as needed. In short, no two days are ever quite the same when it comes to being a personal assistant in a high net worth household!

A private family's personal assistant plays an important role in helping their employers maintain an orderly lifestyle while providing direct support to each member of the family when necessary. Responsibilities range from organizing daily activities and making travel arrangements to monitoring children's educational progress and handling vendors and contractors for home repairs or special projects. No matter what type of task is required, it is essential for private family personal assistants to have excellent organizational skills as well as strong interpersonal communication abilities in order to successfully carry out their duties on behalf of their employer's household.

Stress is a fact of life and in many cases, it can be beneficial. But when workplace stress becomes overwhelming, it can lead to decreased productivity, employee burnout, and even health issues. For private households, reducing staff stress is a key component of employee retention and job satisfaction. Here are five easy strategies for reducing stress in the workplace.

1. Establish Clear Expectations - One of the most common causes of workplace stress is not knowing what's expected of you. Establish clear expectations with your employees and make sure they understand exactly what their responsibilities are and how they're expected to perform them. That way there's no confusion or ambiguity, which can quickly lead to feelings of stress and anxiety. This is particularly important and often neglected in a private domestic staffing scenario. You may have expectations on how your home is run, but those expectations may not be clear or apparent to a new member of household staff.

2. Offer Flexible Scheduling - It's essential to strike a balance between providing enough structure so that work gets done efficiently but also giving employees enough freedom to manage their own time as needed without feeling micromanaged or overwhelmed by deadlines or expectations. Offering flexible scheduling options can help reduce stress levels significantly.

3. Allow Breaks During the Day - Taking regular breaks throughout the day helps employees recharge their batteries and stay focused on their tasks at hand. Encourage your employees to take short breaks during the day—even if only for five minutes—to help them relax and refocus before getting back to work again refreshed and ready to tackle whatever tasks come their way.

4. Provide Supportive Resources - If an employee feels like they're struggling with their workload or unable to complete tasks effectively due to lack of resources or support from supervisors, it can be incredibly stressful for both parties involved. Providing supportive resources such as additional training opportunities or access to helpful tools can give employees the confidence they need to succeed without feeling overwhelmed by too much responsibility being placed on their shoulders alone.

5. Encourage Self-Care Practices - Last but not least, encourage your team members to practice self-care in order to reduce workplace stress levels overall. Self-care could include anything from regular exercise routines and healthy eating habits, taking time off for leisure activities or simply taking a few minutes each day for quiet contemplation or mindfulness practices like meditation or yoga. Allowing your team members the space and support necessary for self-care can have a huge impact on overall workplace morale and productivity levels too!

Reducing stress in the workplace should be top priority for any employer of household staff looking to foster positive working relationships with their employees while maintaining high performance standards at the same time. Implementing these five strategies—establishing clear expectations; offering flexible scheduling; allowing regular breaks; providing supportive resources; encouraging self-care practices—can go a long way towards creating an environment where everyone is able work productively without being weighed down by excessive amounts of pressure or expectation overloads!

If you’re looking for a role in private household staff, you may be wondering what type of roles are available and how to get started. This article will provide an overview of the types of private household staff positions, as well as tips for finding and applying for these jobs.

Types of Private Household Staff Positions
There are many types of private household staff positions available. Some of the most common roles include butlers, chefs, housekeepers, nannies, gardeners, chauffeurs and security specialists. Each position requires specific skills and training so it is important to research each job thoroughly before applying.

Finding Private Household Staff Positions
The best way to find private household staff jobs is through online job boards or recruitment agencies that specialise in such roles. It is also beneficial to network with other professionals in this field who can provide advice and contacts that may be useful when searching for jobs. Additionally, many employers advertise their job openings on social media platforms such as LinkedIn or Facebook.

Applying for a Position
When applying for a position in private household staff it is important to have an up-to-date resume which should include relevant experience, references and any additional qualifications you may possess which could set you apart from other applicants. You should also make sure your cover letter is tailored specifically to the job you are applying for; this shows the employer that you have taken the time to consider their requirements carefully and taken the initiative to craft a unique application. During your interview, it is essential to demonstrate your enthusiasm and dedication towards the role, as well as having excellent communication skills and a positive attitude towards working with others.

Working in private household staff can be extremely rewarding; however it does require special skills and knowledge that must be acquired through training or experience before one can apply for these positions successfully. It is essential to stay informed about the different types of private household staff roles available so that you can properly prepare yourself for each job application; networking with professionals in this field can also prove invaluable when looking for employment opportunities. With hard work and dedication there will always be a place within this industry if you have the right skillset!

Recruiting private household staff now often involves conducting initial interviews over a video call. The pandemic has made most of us reasonably proficient and familiar with various video calling applications such as Zoom, Teams and FaceTime.

The benefits to this in recruitment are clear. It saves both the client and candidate a great deal of time as well as potentially unnecessary costs. This is particularly relevant if the candidate and client reside in different countries.

That being said, interviewing is a skill in of itself and doing this over video adds another layer to this perishable skill set. Some people are more comfortable than others when it comes to attending a video interview. We have put together some tips and helpful information to help you navigate this process successfully.

The first thing that we recommend is to practice. You may want to try recording yourself a few times to assess how you appear on camera. Are you coming across clearly? This can really help with refining your delivery and may even benefit your face to face interview technique.

The next thing that is vitally important is to prepare ahead of time. Things to consider will relate mostly to the device you intend to use. Make sure to think about the following:

Internet connection. Is it stable and fast enough to conduct an effective call? Is anyone else in the house using the internet in a way that could affect your call or slow down the connection?

Which software will you be using? There are many platforms available but once you know which one is being used for the interview, make sure you are familiar with it. Conduct a test call with a friend of family member ahead or time and become familiar with the process of joining and ending the meeting.

Think about location. This will affect both the way you sound and look. When making a test call, check things like the sound levels of the microphone, the camera angle and the lighting. These things are all very important in a video interview. Can the interviewer ckearly see and hear you?

Avoid conducing the interview in a noisy or busy environment which will affect sound quality of the call.

Have a neutral background to avoid any unnecessary distractions.

Consider what to wear. This is just as important as attending a face to face interview and a video call should not be an invitation to let these standards fall by the wayside. Look smart and well presented as if you were attending in person. Avoid wearing overly bright or dark colours as these can affect the camera exposure. Toned down colours work best.

Think about the camera angle and position. Adjust your seating so that you are not too high or low in the camera frame.

When interviewing over video there are other benefits that may not have been possible in a face to face interview. Have a copy of your CV in front of you so that you can easily recall information about your work history. You can also have a list of the key points or questions you would like to remember to address or discuss. Have these off camera where they are easily viewable to you.

The same fundamentals for face to face meetings still apply. Be engaged and make eye contact. Come prepared with questions about the role to illustrate your interest in the position you are applying for. Keep your answers to the point and think about what you want to say ahead of time.

We hope that this information will help you in successfully conducting a stress free interview and wish you all the best with your next one!

If you are interested in viewing some of the domestic household staff vacancies we have available, be sure to visit our Job Board here.

The Housekeeper is at the centre of all staffed houses. Whether it be part of a domestic couple, or part of a team in a formal household. Perhaps they operate in a combined role of Housekeeper/Nanny or Housekeeper/Cook. In any private household employing domestic staff, this particular category of staff is integral.

Finding the right housekeeper for the right job can be a challenge. A housekeeper needs a lot of skills and qualities in order to really succeed in the role. Whether you have an informal family home and only someone for a couple of days a week, or you have a larger more formal setup and you want a dedicated staff member on hand at all times, using an agency that specialises in household staff will significantly ease the process.

Choosing the right housekeeper can take some time, and you need a recruitment agency that can provide you with the best possible candidates. A housekeeper can perform a wide range of duties, from laundry and cooking to running errands, organising the home and supervising other staff if required.
Our consultants have a good understanding of how difficult it can be to find the right person for the role. Whether you’d like to hire a housekeeper, a chauffeur, an estate manager, chef or a cleaner, the team at Marshall Harber will be happy to assist you finding the right candidate for your needs and your environment.

If you are looking for your next Housekeeping job, please visit our Job Board to view all currently available vacancies.

Income tax can be complex at the best of times but there are a few simple elements that both employers and employees need to be aware of when it comes to the matter of ‘employed’ versus ‘self employed’ status.

This article is written In a bid to try and clear up some of the confusion surrounding the difference between PAYE earnings and being self employed in the private staff setting. It is not uncommon for domestic staff, particularly cleaners and housekeepers, to be registered as self employed. This can make sense particularly for part time cleaners with more than one place of work. They essentially manage their own time and hours and can therefore be considered self employed. It’s also appealing for people employing the services of these individuals as this means they can avoid the need of setting up formally as an employer with HMRC, managing a payroll and issuing payslips etc. This is particularly useful if you only require a part time cleaner for a few hours a week or on an ad hoc basis.

There are however considerations of which you need to be aware. Generally speaking, as an Employment Agency and due to the fact that we recruit permanent members of staff to be employed directly by clients, it is unlikely that any of Marshall Harber’s candidates would be able to operate on a self employed basis, even candidates seeking part time positions. We regularly receive requests from client’s and candidates to source or recruit for roles that would suit a self employed person. But the primary issue is that our clients provide us with a job spec to recruit. Part of this job spec is to establish the working days and hours for the role and as soon as the employer is dictating days and hours for a permanent member of staff, the candidate must be considered as employed and there is actually a legal obligation on the employer to operate PAYE in these circumstances regardless of how many hours it is for. There is a test available on the UK Gov website (at the time of writing this article) where you can establish whether someone should genuinely be self employed or not. The online questionnaire can be used by both employers and employees and it can be found here: https://www.tax.service.gov.uk/check-employment-status-for-tax/disclaimer (Link correct at time of posting)

Of course there are many employers of domestic staff that are not using an agency to recruit and they are completely flexible on the time the candidate works for them and may even book the hours week by week on an ad hoc basis directly with the candidate. Alternatively using cleaning companies is another way to engage self employed candidates. They must also be content for the candidate to send someone in to work on their behalf on any days that they are not available. These fundamental traits would all result in the candidate being considered self employed, however these are not generally the conditions and requirements that are presented or acceptable by clients using a Domestic Employment Agency and therefore any candidates (even if they have worked self employed previously) that we represent will need to be happy with working on a PAYE basis and to have their hours dictated by a permanent contract.

There are other elements to self employment to be aware of but we have touched on one of the most common things that employers of domestic staff can misunderstand, particularly when sourcing the staff via an agency.

For employers that find the prospect of setting up as an employer and managing payroll daunting (and we totally understand why), there is no longer any need to fear this aspect of employing staff. Marshall Harber are affiliated with a company called Stafftax. Not only do they make payroll easy, but they actually specialise in payroll for domestic household staff and nannies. The packages they offer are very reasonably priced and depending on what level of service you require, they can not only setup your employer account with HMRC and prepare monthly payslips, but they can even process all the payments to your employee and HMRC on your behalf and manage your workplace pension scheme. So there is really nothing you need to be concerned about other than enjoying the benefits of employing a permanent member of domestic household staff. Clients of Stafftax will also enjoy an added benefit of having access to their HR & Legal helpline as well as access to their employment contracts and advice on drafting these.

If you would like any more information about this service or you would like to discuss your requirements with one our consultants, please call us on 0207 938 2200. You can also view further information about Stafftax and their services on their website: https://www.stafftax.co.uk/