Common Yacht Crew

Captain – responsible for the smooth running of the yacht, including managing crew, accounts, inventory, and all other administrative needs.

Engineer – responsible for all mechanical and electrical maintenance on board the yacht.

1st Mate – works under the Captain to support the yacht

Deckhand – ensures the exterior of the yacht is in pristine condition and working order.

Stewardess – responsible for attending to all guests on board and upkeep of the yacht interior.

Chef – manages all food ordering, stocking, and preparation.

Nanny – families may choose to employ a second nanny in place of or in addition to their full-time nanny to manage and care for children while on board the yacht.

The same attention to client needs and matchmaking set BAHS apart from other agencies. We start from the position that each yacht staffing need is unique, necessitating individual understanding. The breadth and experience of our pool of candidates allow us to service yachts of all sizes. Contact our office today to find the right crew for your vessel.

Why Do Yacht Crew Decide to Work on an Estate?

There is more turnaround on yachts than in estates as other captains will recruit crew for journeys and most jobs are temporary, rarely will a crew stay with a boat for years and the owners don’t want to pay the crew year round when they are not travelling.

Working as yacht crew operates similarly to contract work. The hours are long and hard while on call. After one job ends, crew will either take a break on land or find another boat to work on. After some time working on boats, it is common to see qualified and dedicated crew looking for permanent roles on an estate.

Why are Yacht Crew Good Hires for Household Staff?

To illustrate the work ethic and commitment of staff with yacht experience, look at the job description of a chief stewardess:

• Oversee the interior of the vessel including upholding service requirements, concierge, housekeeping, and laundry
• Plan and coordinate events
• Care for all guests and cater to their unique preferences
• Prepare invoices for charter guests
• Train other members on the crew in the standards of care for the ship, guests, and crew.
• Oversee interior maintenance work
• Coordinate planning with the yacht’s owner, including all the planning involved in a booking a vessel of 23 crew members and 18 guests
• Must be available at all times
• Working hard to prepare the vessel and process orders before guests arrive

These skills are easily transferable to domestic staffing. Attention to detail, working with the guests’ preferences in mind, and working efficiently are all stellar qualities in household staff. For example, housekeeping on a yacht must be exceptional and seamless due to the close quarters and fast-paced schedule. There is so much to do onboard that tasks must be done correctly the first time.

Hire Qualified Household Staff & Yacht Crew.

If you are an estate manager, house manager, personal assistant, or principal hiring for an estate, you cannot go wrong hiring seasoned yacht crew who are looking for a change of pace.

If you are crew looking for employment, please .

The post Hire Qualified Yacht Crew for Your Vessel or Household appeared first on °Ù»¨ÊÓƵ.

The benefits of a private chef extend beyond the delicious food on the table; they can help you stay fit, meet nutrition goals, prevent disease, lose weight, save valuable time, and educate you on sustainability and best practices.

Contact us to begin your search for a private chef.

Range of Cuisines

Our roster of chefs include professionals trained in a variety of cuisines, including South and East Asian, French, Italian, Greek, and Austrian. We also work with talented yacht chefs, who tend to be versatile and highly skilled in multiple areas. For those with a sweet tooth, we also work with select classically trained pastry chefs.

Types of Diets

As we all become more conscious of what we put in our bodies and how it affects our short and long-term health, our dietary preferences can change quickly. The best chefs adapt to new research and recommended diets; we work with chefs who specialize in creating custom menus for a range of diets, including vegetarian, pescatarian, vegan (including South Indian and other speciality vegan cuisines), gluten-free, paleo, low-sodium, low-fat, plant based, and raw food diets.

Farm-to-Table and Other Speciality Chefs

Farm-to-table meals are ones that are sourced directly from local producers, whether that’s a nearby organic farm, a vineyard, or a fishery. The movement aims not only to support local businesses and reduce emissions from lengthy transports but to create a finished product that is of the best quality, nutrition, and freshness, and is seasonal. Many chefs have an established network of purveyors that they routinely work with and are able to easily offer the farm-to-table experience in your home.

Depending on where you live, you may have access to a wider range of speciality chefs. For example, due to the sprawling farms in Marin and Napa, we have a network of chefs in San Francisco, many of whom mill their own flour, grow their own vegetables, and/or specialize in fully organic cooking. Of course, many Napa-based chefs have extensive wine knowledge, as well. Los Angeles is the center for vegan and raw food diets; we have a roster of chefs who create inventive and delicious meals to fit these diets, and many are willing to relocate or live-in. Naples, Italy is not only known as the birthplace of pizza but also as a hub for the world’s best chefs. Austria is renowned for their incredible cuisine and rigorous chef training programs; we work with a select number of Austrian chefs, both in the U.S. and in Europe.

If you’d like to get your children involved in a new activity during the pandemic, many of our chefs have experience working with children and would be happy to curate kid-friendly meals, and involve the little ones in the planning and preparations.

Flexible Schedules 

Our roster includes chefs looking for both full and part-time work. A full-time chef may prepare two or three meals a day for the household, plus provide healthy and nutritious snacks as needed. They will also be able to host and cater private events, special occasions, and dinner parties for your family. We also offer part-time help in the kitchen, should you require someone to stock your refrigerator a few times per week or handle the meal prep and leave the cooking to you. Part-time chefs will typically work 2-3 days per week to help with meal preparation, stocking the refrigerator and pantry, or preparing indulgent weekend meals.

Contact us to begin your search for a private chef.

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As a lead estate manager and domestic staffing expert, Kristen’s expertise in managing multiple properties give her incredible insight for knowing how to maintain the important details relating to high end homes.

Here she shares her advice to some of our client’s most common questions.

How do I open and close 2nd or 3rd properties, and what are your tips to keeping them maintained during absences?

Opening and closing a home is different for each property.

Sometimes it is actually wiser to keep the home opened and running even if it’s at a minimum level. This is sometimes more cost efficient because the maintenance will end up being less. A home that sits completely closed up with no one turning the HVAC on and off, no one running the water, no one checking for leaks, no one doing a walk-through on a weekly or even monthly basis, can cause more damage to a home then a home that remains open.

Turning equipment on and off will actually help the machines function properly then letting them sit without being used for several months.

We are currently in between homes, how do I handle hiring temporary staff for a temporary home?

This will not work for every situation, but I usually start by suggesting your current state manager or house manager check in on your other properties. The reason for this is because they know your preferences, your maintenance schedule and how your home should be kept. You also trust them and have built a relationship with them. However, depending on the new location, this is not always feasible for your current staff.

You can always bring in a third-party person to handle your home. They usually handle multiple clients, making it a full-time job for themselves. They will walk through the home on a weekly, monthly or as needed basis and make sure that everything is running properly. They will test the HVAC, run the water, check for potential leaks and anything else that would be a normal red flag needing attention.

What should I be looking for in a housekeeper?

A good housekeeper is one that has longevity with clients, one that has worked in a high-end home before and has worked on their own in a home ranging from 3,000 -5,000 sq ft.  This means they had to maintain the entire home on their own.  Ones that are experienced and trained to deal with specialised items like understanding the protocol of the handling and the cleaning of art, marbles, woods, etc is essential.  The last thing you want is to have a hand-woven, one-of-a-kind rug that has a red wine stain on it handled by someone who has never dealt with such high-end quality pieces before. Never skim on the quality or salary of a housekeeper, as in this department you truly do get what you pay for!

With restaurants continuing to be closed, how do we hire a great chef for the family home?

Private chefs have been one of the top requests that I get from clients.  Whether its general everyday meals, Michelin level or even dietary restriction based cuisine, private chefs can make life simple by helping out in the kitchen. They can do anything from prepare daily meals on site and delivering carefully prepped meals to your home as well as prepping for further days’ worth of food. It really depends on how often you require them in your kitchen. Private chefs are great as they source the local goods, keep your kitchen inventory fully stocked and help with those times you just don’t have a chance to throw something together for dinner.

For more information or to begin your hiring search, contact us today.

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Here at °Ù»¨ÊÓƵ, we have experienced a huge increase in families searching for specific types of staff as of late, particularly childcare and learning support, newborn specialists, housekeepers, chefs, and temporary/travel staff. We understand our clients’ needs are changing rapidly and we are working hard to meet growing demand. We have top quality staff in every state in the U.S., as well as across Europe, the U.K., and Switzerland. For families who are uncertain what type of staff is right for them at the moment, we offer home assessments and property visits.

For those expecting pandemic babies, please rest assured that we work only with the highest quality maternity specialists, both British and non-British, and many are ready to begin working immediately. However, we are experiencing unprecedented demand, particularly for newborn care, so we recommend starting your search as early in the pregnancy as possible.

As always, we’re here to assist with all your household staffing and educator needs during this challenging time.

Contact us about your hiring needs.

Nannies and Private Educators

As we enter England’s third lockdown, including school closures for most students, as well as changing restrictions across Europe and the U.S., many families are seeking additional childcare, particularly nannies with teaching or tutoring experience. Virtual schooling is simply no substitute for one-on-one time with a dedicated teacher. °Ù»¨ÊÓƵ can help ease these concerns. We offer several options for in-home education, including full-time in-home educators, governesses, certified teachers, and private tutors. We have nannies and educators ready to work nationwide and internationally and many are willing to relocate and/or live-in with your family. We can also assist in forming safe and small  with other families.

Newborn Care 

As the first round of quarantine babies make their way into the world, the need for newborn care is on the rise across the country and abroad. If you are expecting or adjusting to life with a new baby, we encourage you to consider hiring newborn help to provide some consistency and support. Newborn care specialists can allow new parents to rest, can teach and advise on the latest and safest sleep and feeding methods, and can assist with all tasks related to caring for the newest member of your family. We recommend starting your search as soon as you know you are expecting as top specialists tend to be booked well in advance by returning mothers and referrals; however, we can often accommodate last-minute requests, as well.

Executive Housekeepers

As we spend more and more time in our homes, their appearance, cleanliness, organization, and maintenance have become more important than ever. We can assist you in forming an efficient and productive team to make sure your home meets the highest cleanliness and safety standards during this challenging time. Every family’s needs are different; you may need a single housekeeper or a whole team run by an executive housekeeper. The distinction between a housekeeper and an executive housekeeper is the latter’s experience managing other household staff. An executive housekeeper will have worked on teams of household staff and overseen other housekeepers. When beginning your search for a housekeeper, consider your home(s) and unique needs. Our expert team is happy to guide you through the entire process.

Chefs

Outdoor dining has once again shut down in California, temperatures have dropped into the low 30s in New York, and indoor dining has been deemed unsafe in most of the country and in many cities internationally. As a result, we have seen a great increase in families requesting private chefs for their homes, for both permanent and temporary positions. Our chefs, with a huge range of specialties, make it easy to save time, eat delicious and nutritious meals, and entertain small groups in your home with ease.

Temporary and Travel Staff

Many families are spending time in second homes, either for more space during the pandemic, or for a change during the winter months. Whether you’re staying warm in Florida, enjoying the snow and winter sports in Aspen, or spending time on a yacht in the Mediterranean, we can assist with hiring temporary or travel staff in all areas. We have nannies, educators, chefs, yacht staff, and more ready to relocate and work immediately.

Home Assessments

If you are not sure what your home may need in terms of staffing, training, maintenance, or new protocols, we can assist. We offer home assessments, property visits, training refreshers for current staff, and more.

Contact us about your unique hiring needs today.

The post Start the Year Off Right with a Properly Staffed Home appeared first on °Ù»¨ÊÓƵ.

Contact us to hire a private chef today.

What is a Private Chef? 

A personal or private chef is hired on either a part or full-time basis by a family or single person. According to the American Personal & Private Chef Association,

“A private chef is employed by one individual or family full time, and often lives in, preparing up to three meals per day. A personal chef serves several clients, usually one per day.”

A private chef will hold a degree from a reputable culinary school and will typically have a minimum of four years experience in a domestic setting. Their main responsibility is to prepare meals for an individual or family. They may live-in with the family to provide on-call service or plan weekly meals according to a set schedule. A common schedule for a private chef is to work mid-morning to evening in the home preparing lunch, dinner and breakfast for the next day. They will also be essential in planning any events in the home.

Flexible to Meet Your Needs

To meet the changing needs of our clients, we offer part-time and full-time chefs for temporary and permanent placements. Many of our chefs are willing to live-in with your family, or travel as needed. We also have a roster of chefs with yacht experience if you have travel at sea planned in the coming year. As pandemic restrictions change and affect the way we eat out, shop, and spend time together, we have seen an increased demand for long-term placements, either to replace restaurant outings or to free up the principal’s time, as well as short-term seasonal and holiday placements.

Find the Right Speciality 

It is important to think about your family’s unique needs when hiring a chef. Do you love French foods? Are members of your family vegan or vegetarian? Are you looking for a chef with farm-to-table experience? Extensive wine knowledge? Should the chef have experience with children? Many kid-friendly chefs will create healthy recipes to accommodate picky eaters, as well as invite the children to help out in the kitchen from time to time. From pastry chefs who make elaborate desserts and host chocolate tastings to experienced chefs who have the connections to source the best vegetables and seafood to classically trained French chefs, we can assist with finding a chef to meet your family’s tastes.

Stay Fit 

As gyms close, the holiday season nears, and most of us are busier than ever, it is easy to lose sight of our health and fitness goals. Many of us reach for the easiest – not healthiest – option when it comes to meal time and these choices affect our overall physical and mental health, as well as our weight. A private chef can help you and your family stay on track by providing nutritious and delicious meals without any of the stress of time-consuming preparations. Many of our chefs are trained to cook a variety of specific meal plans, including paleo, keto, low-carb, low-fat, and gluten-free.

Save Time, Eat Better

The number of families employing private chefs has grown in the last decade. What was once considered an expendable luxury is becoming more and more popular and integral to the lives of busy families. For most, the convenience and support of having a private chef, as well as the health benefits, more than outweigh the cost. As an alternative to full-time in-home private chefs, some chefs will prepare meals in their own kitchen and deliver them to the client’s home, as well as stock the refrigerator and pantry.

See more about Staying Healthy with Meal Deliveries from Top Chefs

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When our GPS discovers a problem up ahead, it simply re-routes to get us to where we are going. At °Ù»¨ÊÓƵ we pride ourselves on being a navigation that can re-route you when lost or struggling to get to where you need to be.

At °Ù»¨ÊÓƵ we make it our priority to find the silver lining in the cloud that has disrupted so many lives this year. Being one step ahead of the unpredictable nature of life, we have developed an impressive roster of reliable, responsible, and recommended staff to service your household at this crucial time more than ever.

At the BAHS agency you can lean on us during a time of change and uncertainty in finding assistance and relief for your family and your household.

Now that most of us are working from home it can be very difficult to navigate the workload whilst being under the same roof as your family. Trying to manage your business and run a household, especially if you have a child or children, proves to be a great juggling act that even the most focused multi-taskers would become frustrated with after a while.

We recognised that this new normal has not only impacted the way we work, but how we view the household positions which could perhaps help take the workload off us even further.

At the BAHS agency we begin by determining what staff your home needs in relation to your life, both personal and professional.

Do you feel like a live-in nanny may help you with childcare now that the availability in daycares and schools are being constantly unreliable?

Do you feel a housekeeper could give you some breathing space with taking a load off your list?

Would adding a chef to your home give you those well deserved extra hours of freedom and peace to focus on work and family time?

At BAHS we consider three areas to be the most valuable when looking at making your household run more efficiently.

• Childcare
• Cleaning
• House Management

Childcare

Childcare covers any position regarding children.

This includes nannies, governesses, tutors, newborn care specialists and maternity nurses. Additionally, some light general tidying and meal prep when it relates to the children are perfectly reasonable expectations for these roles, but no deep cleaning or home management is included unless specified and agreed.

A nanny will have a substantial amount of childcare expertise and experience, often holding a degree related to childhood education, such as Early Childhood Development or a Master’s degree in Education. Some nannies specialise in specific age groups such as infant or school age. Those who specialise in school age children are often referred to as governesses and will often be qualified to tutor certain academic subjects.

Nannies specialising in newborn care have extensive training and experience with newborns, infants and toddlers allowing them to understand the specific needs of each child’s development stage. Newborn nannies are often referred to as newborn case specialists, maternity nurses or baby nurses.

Cleaning

Cleaning refers to several specialised skills which fall on the duties of a housekeeper.

These include: deep cleaning, cooking, laundry, pressing, ironing, clothing care, wardrobe care and maintenance, couture clothing care and household organising.

Basic cooking or meal prep responsibilities are sometimes given to a housekeeper as well as general errand running.

This is open to discussion and again, a personal choice between you and your chosen staff.

What exactly is the difference between a Housekeeper and a Cleaner?

While many cleaners are great for last minute tidying or once-over deep cleanings, there is a distinct difference between a housekeeper and a cleaner.

A housekeeper’s skill goes beyond deep cleaning – in addition, they also excel in organising closets by colour, style, season, their attention to detail in organising the home and their deep understanding of clothing care (steam, clean and hand wash) They will also be familiar with formal service including serving and formal table setting.

Management

A house manager is responsible for planning events, coordinating renovations and training other staff. They organise staff schedules, including the housekeepers (executive housekeepers and regular housekeepers or laundresses) and nannies. A house manager is usually responsible for attending to most staff-related issues within that particular property.

Where there are large or multiple homes, the estate manager will carry out the wishes of the principals at each location. Estate managers will have authority over all household and estate operations, managing extensive property and staff issues on a daily basis.

At times, a domestic couple is commonly hired to look after a seasonal or secondary property.

The most popular type are those of a housekeeper/cook and a driver/handyman which collaborate as covering all areas of running and maintaining the property.

There are also estate couples where one manage the estate and one is often a chef, however most clients value the domestic couple as they prefer having a couple to clean, organise, cook and drive collectively.

´¡Ìýdomestic couple are usually either given a separate cottage/lodge or provided a separate living area for their time spent employed looking after the residence. Together they run one large home successfully and can often save the employer from needing to hire further or multiple staff.

´¡Ìýhouse manager is typically responsible for all staff in a single property with their responsibilities at times overlapping with those of a butler, property manager or personal assistant. They deal with overseeing maintenance issues and making sure the running of the household is smooth and efficient.

Butler duties often vary but may include managerial responsibilities, keeping accounts, marketing, and maintaining the wardrobe for the principals of the residence. They often act as House Managers but rather than deep clean as housekeepers do — they often cook which is a perk valued by the client.

´¡Ìýpersonal assistant role can vary from managing the family calendar, personal shopping, planning events, paying bills and arranging travel to handling investments.

Many, when required, even work in the office of the family business.

Now that businesses are slowly re-opening, you may be considering leaving the working from home scene behind and heading back to the office. The COVID-19 pandemic has more than just provoked a new focus on household employment with hiring in-home domestic and household staff as a more convenient option for those now working from home but also provides a safer option for childcare with many daycares and schools closing or operating with limited availability. You may choose to secure a live-in nanny for private, in-home care to limit the number of people exposed to your family.

One thing for sure is that there is no price on your peace of mind when it comes to your family and your home.

At BAHS we are here to listen and advise in support of your next step. Whether you’re making the permanent move to now fully work from home or you’re planning a return to the office, we have the incredible staff to provide you with the reassurance and the resources to bring organisation to your household.

From household inventory to childcare, we can manage your most important needs and create a household harmony that you’ve been searching for.

The post Hiring Household Staff During the Pandemic appeared first on °Ù»¨ÊÓƵ.

In one word – TRIAL.

You must absolutely trial housekeepers in order to find the perfect fit for your home.

Like test driving a car or trying on a new pair of shoes, finding a housekeeper is a decision that needs to be based on experience before knowing for sure if it’s the right fit.

It’s one position that needs to be made beyond browsing a resume, so we encourage you to trial before making any definitive decisions.

What are a housekeeper’s duties?

A housekeeper’s duties are specific to the home they are working in. All housekeepers deep clean, yet there’s far more to their role than being a cleaner.

A trained housekeeper will bring their knowledge and experience in formal serving, table setting, organising and high-quality care for furniture and artwork. They will also be skilled in washing and ironing clothing.

What’s the difference between a housekeeper and an executive housekeeper?

The difference between a housekeeper and an executive housekeeper is that the latter’s experience managing other household staff.

An executive housekeeper will have worked on teams of household staff and overseen other housekeepers. An executive housekeeper doesn’t often manage staff, this is left to the head housekeeper, however, most house managers or butlers usually take the lead with the managing.

Finances relating to the household are also often handled by the executive housekeeper along with stocking the pantries with required and desired inventory and overseeing vendors or contract workers coming to the home.

Our expert team at BAHS agency are ready and willing to guide you through the entire process when deciding on who to hire. Contact our office today to be connected with an expert recruiter and find the right housekeeper for your home.

See more information about housekeepers and other household staff.

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Here at °Ù»¨ÊÓƵ we are more than happy to break it down for you to simplify the two roles.

Estate Manager

An important role who oversees all the house managers and is the primary contact for the principals.

Estate managers are in a strong position of leadership and are responsible for overseeing the domestic staff. They also oversee and manage the many services taking place in and around the homes of the estate.

An estate manager’s focus is securely on the bigger picture, making sure that each home runs consistently and efficiently. They are expected to have strong communication skills and a strong assertive presence leading those around them and setting the tone for the work environment.

An estate manager is not only the head of the household but also the eyes and ears, making sure the house managers and other household staff are collectively following the policies and procedures to run a tight ship in the home effectively.

We are a domestic staffing agency with a meticulous strategy for finding the perfect fit for your household, whether you’re looking for a live-in nanny, a housekeeper, a butler, estate manager or house manager. You need it, we have it!

House Manager 

Under the supervision and direction of the estate manager, the house manager is responsible for running the day-to-day details of the homes, managing the housekeepers and then reporting to the estate manager.

A house manager’s role, similar to a butler, is to be responsible for managing the other staff and the maintenance of your estate. They closely manage vendors who perform various duties both in and around the property.

Duties performed by the house manager may include understanding the operation and maintenance of the equipment used throughout the estate, providing hands-on expertise with type duties. This is all encompassing and includes tasks from window cleaning to gardening.

House managers will be expected to have strong communication skills as they will be dealing with tradespeople, employees, and daily services being brought into the household and on the premises.

So, to conclude, both positions oversee the daily running of your estate, but their job description contains very different tasks and requires parallel yet separate skills.  Which position to hire is completely down to the finer details of your lifestyle, from your work schedule to the household size and the quantity of requirements.

BAHS can advise and orchestrate the perfect blend and amount of team members needed to make life run smoothly for you. Contact our office today to be connected with a recruiter and begin your search.

The post Why You Need a House Manager and Estate Manager for Multiple Estates appeared first on °Ù»¨ÊÓƵ.

What Constitutes Household Staff?

Household staff are hired to work in a private home. What differentiates domestic employees from contract workers is how autonomously they work. An independent contractor will work within their own schedule, use their own tools and operate within their own guidelines. For example, a plumber would be an independent contractor. Domestic employees work on a set schedule and process determined by the employer or homeowner. For example, your housekeeper working to your schedule and using the tools provided would be a domestic employee. This distinction applies whether an employee is live-in or live-out, part-time or full-time, hourly or salary.

Common staff positions in large and small homes are:

Estate Manager – individual managing multiple large properties and all land, vineyards, private jets and yachts.

House Manager – individual managing a single property and all staff employed there.

Chauffeur – individual hired to drive a principal and family. A chauffeur may also have a background in security.

Lady’s Maid – individual that attends to the lady of the house.

Private Chef – individual that prepares meals on a long-term basis for a household. A private chef may also manage other kitchen staff and plan events.

Butler – individual in the home dedicated to service. Duties of a butler may range from household management to wardrobe care.

Houseman – individual provides deep cleaning for the home and serves a single, usually male, principal.

Personal Assistant – individual working to support a single principal or family. A personal assistant will be able to run errands, book appointments and travel and manage accounts.

Executive Housekeeper – individual who manages other house cleaning staff. An executive housekeeper may also coordinate vendors and repairs for the property.

Housekeeper – individual responsible for cleaning the home. A housekeeper will be well-versed in maintaining fine furniture, caring for artwork and antiques and cleaning and ironing fine clothing.

Nanny – individual dedicated to caring for the children of the home.

Governess – individual dedicated to caring and educating the children of the home. A governess will have a background in education and focus on teaching and instruction as a primary responsibility.

Private Jet Staff

Private Yacht Staff

See more information on duties and responsibilities for these and other domestic staffing positions.

How to Maintain Consistency with Your Household Staff Amid Coronavirus

Many families have already made the difficult decision to furlough or let domestic employees go because of the coronavirus. It’s important to remember, however, that these times will end. Life will return to a sense of normalcy and your home and family will need to return to the same level of care as before.

So it’s important to keep your staff if possible, either by having them live-in with you, accommodate strict quarantines, or adjust to remote work for the time being. For more information, see our tips for how to acclimate to having your staff live-in with you during this time.

Remember everyone’s life has been disturbed, and members of your household staff may be feeling anxious about work and income. Communicate openly about your plans and needs and be flexible. Replacing staff is a long and stressful process, and it is ideal to maintain your current staffing situation so the transition out of isolation can be easier.

Working with a domestic staffing agency can ensure expert attention is given to the details of hiring. °Ù»¨ÊÓƵ is able to provide advisement on salaries, benefits, schedule and any relevant tax information in your state. Contact our office today to discuss your unique needs and begin the hiring process.

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It can be difficult to fully grasp how much work is involved in household positions. A good way to begin determining what staff your home needs is to divide tasks into three main categories: childcare, cleaning, and management.

Childcare

Childcare encompasses any position dealing primarily with the children. This includes nannies, governesses, tutors, newborn care specialists, and maternity nurses. Again, some general tidying and meal prep as it relates to the children are perfectly reasonable expectations for these roles, but no deep cleaning or home management.

A nanny will have a substantial amount of childcare experience and will sometimes hold a degree related to childhood education, such as Early Childhood Development or a Master’s degree in Education. Some specialize in specific age groups such as infant or school age. Those who specialise in school age children are often referred to as governesses and will often be qualified to tutor certain academic subjects.

Nannies that specialize in newborn care have extensive training and experience with newborns, infants and toddlers. They will understand the specific needs of each child’s development stage and be able to navigate each stage’s unique challenges. Newborn nannies are often referred to as newborn case specialists, maternity nurses, or baby nurses.

Cleaning

Cleaning fine homes is a very specialised skill. Common duties for a housekeeper include laundry, pressing, ironing, cooking, clothing care, wardrobe care and maintenance, couture clothing care and household organizing. Basic cooking or meal prep responsibilities are sometimes given to a housekeeper as well as general errand running.

The difference between a housekeeper and a cleaner is the housekeeper’s ability to organise closets by color and season, organise the home in general, and a deep understanding of clothing care (steam, dry clean and hand wash). They will understand formal service, which includes serving, formal table setting, and flower arranging. An executive housekeeper will have experience working on a team and managing other staff, usually in a formal townhouse or other similar large high-level residences.

Management

Management positions are necessary for larger homes with multiple moving parts and staff members. A house manager will be able to coordinate renovations, plan events, and train other staff.

Where there are large, multiple homes, the estate manager is the “Chief of Staff” of the entire household, carrying out the wishes of the principals at each location. Estate managers will have broad policy making authority over all household and estate operations and manage extensive property and staff issues on a daily basis.

A domestic couple is commonly hired to look after a seasonal or secondary property. Their responsibilities include (but may not be limited to): maintenance, cooking, serving and driving. They are either given a separate cottage or provided a separated living area for the full year. Together a domestic couple can run one large home successfully and can often save the employer from needing to hire multiple staff.

A house manager is typically responsible for all staff in a single property. Their responsibilities may also overlap with those of a butler, property manager or personal assistant. They deal with vendors, preempt maintenance issues and ensure the smooth running of the household.

Professional butler duties often vary and may include, but are not limited to, managerial responsibilities, keeping accounts, marketing, and maintaining the wardrobe for the principals of the residence.

A personal assistant role can vary from managing the family calendar, being in charge of personal shopping, planning events, paying bills and arranging travel to handling investments and philanthropic accounts, and even working in the office of the family business.

Hire Household Staff with °Ù»¨ÊÓƵ

Knowing your unique needs and the best way to meet them can make the hiring process easier. Identifying and hiring the right staff for your family will provide much needed rest and ease of mind, knowing your family and home are being properly cared for.

Still, knowing where to begin this process can still feel overwhelming. Our expert team of recruiters can discuss your needs, recommend the right staff, and connect you with that staff throughout the hiring process. Contact our office today with any questions and to begin your search.

Due to our tech-savvy culture, reviewing candidates and interviewing can be done seamlessly. Once you have a candidate you’d like to hire, options for self-quarantine and isolation before their start date are available. Depending on the area in which you live and your unique situation, testing may soon be available to ensure your family and staff stay safe and healthy.

Our expert recruiters can assess your needs and recommend the best course of action for keeping your current staff or hiring during this time. Connect with your local office today to discuss your options and begin implementing structure.

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