Money is as much of a commodity as one can imagine. A dollar is dollar, whether it is in your wallet, in your purse, on your desk, lying on the sidewalk or in a vault. Money is the same whether it is made of pennies or made of quarters or a mud laden one dollar bill. Money is the only part of a service or product that is a pure quantifiable transaction. As a veteran of the corporate world for over 20 years, I have a lot of experience with issues that can arise with handling money. One time, I made the mistake of not giving one of my employees the exact raise that I orally agreed to give him. I was a bit casual about the agreement because to me, money means only a small part the overall process of working that I receive so much satisfaction from. Unfortunately, not everyone else looks at work and money this way, and I received a huge mouthful from my boss about this. It turns out that the employee complained to my boss that he had not been paid on time. I will never forget that moment! It was embarrassing, and made me realize how important it is to keep the exact commitment you agree upon regarding any money issues in the work place.
In the nanny world, paying your housekeeper on time is extremely important. The entire dynamic of your relationship with your housekeeper can be thrown off if you forget to pay your housekeeper, or if you do not keep your commitment to them. While this may seem trivial to some, paying funds on time is very important to most individuals, especially to nannies and housekeepers. This is one exchange with your housekeeper that actually needs the least amount of energy and effort. If you do it right, you will in turn bring consistency and reliability in your relationship with your housekeeper.
Here are 4 tips to increase an efficient money management relationship with your housekeeper
- Always pay your housekeeper on time
- Always pay your housekeeper the exact amount that you agreed upon
- Always pay your housekeeper with respect
- Pay your housekeeper without being asked to pay
In the Corporate world, we often take this for granted as many of Americans have opted for “direct deposit.” Imagine if every time you were due to be paid your employer “forgot” or said “I will pay you next week.” You would imagine that this would create a certain level of resentment, and your work would most likely be affected. In order to maintain a healthy level of respect with your housekeeper, keep these money management tips in mind. They will go a long way and create a mutually beneficial relationship for both parties involved.
For housekeepers who are on the receiving end, it is important to receive money with gratitude. Housekeepers should feel free to share any issue regarding the check amount if the amount does not seem correct, or if it differs from the amount agreed upon. Angela, a LifeWorx nanny from Stamford, CT, says that on Fridays her boss routinely forgets to go to the bank and promises to pay her on the following Monday. What a way to put a damper in the otherwise perfectly healthy working relationship with your housekeeper!
As the CEO of LifeWorx, I believe fair pay at a scheduled time is an essential part of the working agreement with your housekeeper. This will ensure that no one will steal your help. Remember to give your housekeeper respect, fair pay and a consistent workload. Also, be very careful about paying in advance, as this may create future problems with your housekeeper’s personal money management system. Set a standard and communicate with your housekeeper and nanny about benefits, pay, holidays, pay for extra work and tipping. All of these money management tips will help you create a healthy working relationship with your housekeeper, and free up your time to spend more time doing the things you love, rather then worry about pay issues during your spare time.
