househelpcrew

Hire Right checklist

21 steps to hiring household help fairly and safely: decide what you need, find and vet candidates, get the paperwork right and start well.

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Plan the job

Half an hour of thinking before you post saves weeks later.

  • Write down the tasks, schedule and must-haves Guide
  • Decide: a company, an agency or hiring directly Guide
  • Check local pay rates and set a fair range Guide
  • Work out whether the role is likely employee or contractor Guide
  • List the house rules that matter to you Guide

Find and vet candidates

Same questions for everyone, notes for each.

  • Write a clear job post with pay and hours Guide
  • Share it in two or three places that fit the role Guide
  • Do a short phone screen first Guide
  • Interview with the same core questions for everyone Guide
  • Call at least two references yourself Guide
  • If you run a background check, get written consent first Guide
  • Book a paid trial shift Guide

Get the paperwork right

Simple, written and agreed before day one.

  • Write a simple work agreement and both sign it Guide
  • Check whether household employer tax rules apply to you Guide
  • Ask your insurer about someone working in your home Guide
  • Set up a simple record of hours and payments Guide

Start well

The first week sets the tone for years.

  • Give a home tour: supplies, shutoffs, no-go areas Guide
  • Decide how they get in, and use a code you can change Guide
  • Share emergency contacts and what to do if something breaks Guide
  • Schedule a check-in at the end of week one Guide
  • Put a review date in your calendar Guide