Treat your househelp like a prized employee, and she will be loyal and motivated.
It is getting harder to find good househelp nowadays. This is mainly due to the pay not rising at par with their needs. When I was younger, kasambahay workers were plentiful, and doing domestic work was a quick way to get decent pay.
Nowadays, you can still see a lot of prospects using social media, but they tend to be flight risks, as they often are only in for a quick buck. You will likely encounter scammers who ask for “travel funds” from the employer and promptly disappear once they get the cash.
We had difficulty finding our current kasambahay (househelp). It was serendipity that she became our employee. Someone recommended another person through word-of-mouth networking. However, this prospect backed out at the last minute and then recommended her, and she eventually became our kasambahay.
How to Look For Kasambahay
A good kasambahay is worth its weight in gold, as she would provide relief for you and save you time. Good kasambahay are typically recommended by their peers.
I’ve tried, but I’ve never gotten a good one from an ad in a Facebook group. You want your househelp referral to be vetted. Without proper vetting, you can only rely on secondhand sources, i.e., clearances from the police, barangay, and/or the NBI.
But even with the clearances, it doesn’t mean their character is upright. I’ve experienced hiring one who initially looked okay but eventually became suspicious as she made up stories that made our other kasambahay look bad and fight among themselves. We’ve also had kasambahay steal money and run away after a few weeks.
The best way to find kasambahay is through word-of-mouth or an agency. I’ve employed some good stay-out help by asking our homeowner’s association personnel. It pays to ask around and ask for referrals from people you know.
Differences of Stay-in and Stay-Out Househelp
For Stay-out:
- The help typically asks for a higher daily rate.
- This is good if you need occasional help (ex., someone to help with a party or ironing clothes).
- They can bring sickness to your home since they come from outside.
- A downside is that you cannot ask them to stay longer unless you pay for overtime.
- Stay-out help can cancel anytime and not come in at all.
- Typical arrangements are money-based compensation only; no other benefits are included
For Stay-In:
- You have more control over their responsibilities.
- Board and lodging are a given.
- They intimately know you and your family, and you should consider them a potential source of information leaks.
How to Attract and Employ Good Kasambahay
Look through the lens of attracting talent, similar to finding good employees in a company. You can offer competitive compensation as an incentive.
According to DOLE, typical wages for kasambahay in first-class cities and municipalities are Php 6000 and Php 5000 elsewhere. Offer close to double that or more. If you stick to the minimum wage, you will only attract desperate candidates who will accept.
I use GCash to dispense salaries. This is so that they will become more familiar with the app and can easily remit to their loved ones. Another benefit is that you can open them up to using the financial services offered, like savings accounts or lines of credit. I also provide them with the GCash debit card for free so that they can withdraw their salaries via the ATM or buy with it if they choose to.
Examples of Compensation/Benefits for Kasambahay
Most of us have experienced job hunting. We want to apply for jobs that pay well and offer reasonable compensation. It should be no different for kasambahay. Mandatory benefits include 13th-month pay, SSS, PAG-IBIG, Philhealth, and service leaves.
Additionally, here are some other benefits I provide to my kasambahay. You can use a similar setup:
- Free toiletries (soap, shampoo, toilet paper, toothpaste)
- WiFi connection sharing
- Prepaid Load allowance
- Annual Physical Exam
- Medicines (vitamins and OTC for sickness)
- Paid leaves
- Year-end bonuses
- Loans (with preconditions like tenure and limits)
I don’t give salary advances because once they’ve advanced their pay, their quality of work will plummet as they will have little to no incentive to do it properly. I give loans instead.
Using the Value of the Written Agreement
Providing an employment agreement with your kasambahay is valuable. It protects both you and them from exploitation and clarifies responsibilities, pay agreements, and compensations.
The employment agreement can also give weight to specific rules you want them to follow. For example, you can put in a rule that your househelp should not disclose any information to outsiders (or even to mothers-in-law).
Another rule I use is that I don’t allow an overnight day off — the help should come back within the day. This is unless she takes an extended leave to go home to her province.
Another written document I use is the payslip. This is especially important when your kasambahay has loans to pay. I have her sign the payslip to acknowledge it, and I take a picture to document.
The Bottom Line
Respect begets respect. If you expect quality work, then you should also provide quality employment.
Kasambahay is typically in a special position with your family as they grow old with yours. Some long-time kasambahay can even be considered family. They always see your true personality at home and may even know you better than extended family and close friends.
Psychological safety is also important, even vital, for househelp. They should also be allowed to own their work and responsibilities without undue stress. If you have multiple, you should also be consistent with them. Motivated employees strive to improve, no matter what the work is.
Let’s try to elevate our kasambahay and remove the stigma that it is a dead-end job.