Hiring domestic help can be a tricky task for someone who is new to the procedure. There are several different ways to go about it safely and efficiently. Though there are companies available that can aid in the search for domestic help by providing either temporary or permanent placements, this process can also be approached independently by the employer as long as he understands exactly what is involved in hiring an employee.
Determine the specific duties of the job and the qualifications desired in an employee. Place an ad in the newspaper outlining the needs and qualifications of the position, as well as the pay scale and hours. Include an address where the application materials should be sent. An advertisement can also be placed for free on some city-centric websites, such as Craigslist.org.
Wait a few weeks and review all application packets. Pick out the applicants that appear to have the required qualifications and experience and interview them several times, making note of not only their personalities but also their skills and capability to perform certain tasks.
Choose a top candidate. Check the candidate's references and register with a service that provides criminal background checks. Perform a driving history check, if necessary, by contacting the service desk at the local police department and inquiring about the service. Check on the candidate's immigration status and, if necessary, have a lawyer look over the candidate's personal documents to ensure that they are authentic.
Consult with an accountant to determine how to calculate taxes and pay out for the candidate's salary. The accountant will be able to demonstrate how to document the candidate's tax withholdings and benefits. The accountant should also be able to directly handle these aspects of the employment if desired.
Acquire a home owner's insurance policy that includes coverage for in-home employees. If the employee should become injured while on the job, this policy will cover the employee.
Select a service agency in the area that specializes in the type of service required. Maid and nanny services are fairly common almost everywhere, but sometimes these agencies also provide handymen, gardeners, chefs and other types of domestic help. Check with the local Better Business Bureau to see how the local companies rank.
Contact the agency and describe the position as thoroughly as possible. The agency will perform a search within its pool of workers and send an appropriate employee to the house. The agency should have previously screened all its workers and should make any screening materials available, should the employer desire them
Test out the employee. Most service agencies will send out a different employee if the first one is unsatisfactory and the service will be needed on a regular basis. Find someone who fits well into the household.
Locate a permanent placement agency that is highly ranked with the local Better Business Bureau and contact them. Describe the position. Permanent placement agencies differ from service agencies in that their goal is to find a permanent match for the position, particularly if the position is a long-term or full-time job.
Ask the agency about any fees that will be assessed, as well as the screening process for applicants. Some agencies have a pool of workers at the ready, while others perform a fresh search each time. The agency should be running all necessary background checks and preliminary interviews as part of the services rendered.
Interview potential applicants according to the agency's process. Select a candidate.
Check with the agency to see how much of the candidate's employment details it will be handling. Some agencies leave it up to the employer to pay the new employee's salary and taxes, while other agencies deal with the employee directly until he leaves the position. Consult an accountant to determine how to calculate the employee's taxes and document his salary, if necessary.