Domestic workers and your pets

It's important to consider how you treat your domestic worker, what her role and relationship is with your pets and whether she is willing to care for them.

In the view of domestic workers, employers treat their pets better than their workers. Further, they are often given duties in relation to pets, which they despise as being demeaning areas of work. 

In research conducted by SACSIS some responses included “I am starting to realize how we are exploited also now. These people have dogs that we must cook for and take them out for walks but that is not part of the agreement.” [1st participant]; “Those dogs eat better than you and sleep better than you.” [2nd participant]; “I cook this chicken for the dog and I eat it before giving it to the dog. Do you know that it must be roasted as well?” [3rd participant]; (Domestic workers from Gugulethu working in a Cape Town suburb).

5 Good Uses for Wood Ash

As we move from Winter Fire Places to Summer Braais... Here are some great uses for the ash 

1. De-skunk pets. A handful rubbed on Fido's coat neutralizes the lingering odour. 

2. Block garden pests. Spread evenly around garden beds, ash repels slugs and snails. 

3. Pump up tomatoes. For the calcium-loving plants, place 1/4 cup right in the hole when planting, 

4. Clean glass fireplace doors. A damp sponge dipped in the dust scrubs away sooty residue brilliantly.

5. Shine silver. A paste of ash and water makes a nontoxic metal polisher.

Domestic Worker Definitions and Roles

A domestic worker is a gardener, driver, cleaner or person who looks after children, the aged, sick, frail or disabled in a private household, but not on a farm. 

You can expect a domestic worker to fulfil one or all of these roles in your home, but remember to be reasonable, after all they are people as well!

1. Draw up daily, weekly and monthly to do lists
2. Be clear in your expectations and show them how and what you mean
3. Give feedback, both positive and constructive 
4. Don't assume they know how you want it done first time, you may have to explain and show again

Have a look at the Department of Labour contract and roles for an example of an employment contract and roles.

Empower your nanny by teaching her to swim

If you have a pool and your children are allowed to swim, it is vital that every adult present can swim, in case of an emergency.  In addition, this is a great life skill which will give your domestic worker or child carer a wonderful sense of achievement. Having a nanny who can swim allows your children to have fun at the pool and gives you peace of mind when you are not at home. 

Price start at around R1200.00 for 8 lessons, you may need to provide her with more, depending on how confident or nervous she is. Remember that many women in South Africa wash out of a bowl and have not even been submerged in a bath let alone a pool of water before so be patient.

Empower your nanny by teaching her to drive

Empower your nanny, save time on grocery shopping, lifting children to and from extra mural activities and many other little errands at home. 

Teaching your nanny to drive can be a three (3) to six (6) month process that involves the nanny obtaining her learners licence, taking driving lessons and completing a driving licence test. Most learners need at least 10 lessons and some practice hours before they take their test.

Price range: R3500 – R6000 depending on the number of driving lessons required.

Most driving schools will come to your home, collect in a learning vehicle and drop off afterwards.  Shop around and be sure they will let her take her licence in a car she is used to in order to avoid any hassles on the day of her test.

Print and Keep Emergency Numbers

Here is a list of useful emergency numbers for you to print and keep next to your phone.  Add your work and cell phone numbers as well as the numbers of another family member incase you are not available.

It's also useful to write your home address on the list incase your domestic worker needs to tell emergency services where you are (they may not know exactly how to spell the street name or the suburb)

Western Cape Emergency Numbers

Educate your domestic worker in crime prevention

Our nannies, housekeepers and gardeners are often left with the huge responsibility of caring for our homes and their expensive contents. As such it is important to educate them on what they can do to help protect themselves, our children and our things.

A few simple steps can make a big difference - take the time to discuss these with your domestic workers.

• Be aware of surroundings on your way to work and pay attention to strange vehicles or people
• Don't open the door or gate unless you are sure it safe to do so
• Don't let anyone onto the property unless your employer has said they're expecting them
• Avoid talking about the home you work in and the contents to avoid becoming a target
• Keep the doors and unbarred windows locked when you're alone at home
• Carry a panic button and know where there are panic buttons in the house
• Keep emergency numbers in your phone and next to the land line

Have a look at these useful sites for more information making sure your domestic workers know what to do to keep themselves and your home safe.

Sugar and Spice Nanny Training

ADT
Warn your domestic workers