Domestic Service FAQs

How do I hire domestic service staff?

Households recruit domestic service staff in a variety of ways. The most common means are the engagement of a staffing agency, internet recruiting, and newspaper classified advertisement.

Staffing Agencies: There are established domestic service staffing agencies in most major metropolitan areas. Your first stop in locating a domestic service staffing agency is this site - the database of agencies on 4HomeHelp.com is the most comprehensive available anywhere.

Typically, a domestic service staffing agency will:

1. Collect a retainer from the employer before beginning to recruit. Retainer may vary from $150-$500 dollars and is generally non-refundable and not contingent in a successful placement.
2. Interview the employer, in person if geographically feasible, to determine the family needs.
3. Begin the advertisement and recruitment activities to find appropriate candidates.
4. Pre-screen select candidates, verifying employment history and checking personal references.
5. Refer finalists to the employer for an interview. Generally the agency will provide the family with interview guidance, as well as the results from their reference checking.
6. Collect feedback from the family after interviewing, refer more candidates if necessary, or help the family make a job offer to the candidate. The agency should be able to assist the family with salary and tax issues, or refer to specialists in that area. HomeWork Solutions, Inc. is a nationally recognized leader in nanny payroll and tax services. The agency should also help the family write up a formal work agreement between the family and the nanny.
7. Agency will order a background search, generally from a reputable firm with a nationwide research network, after the candidate has accepted a contingent offer of employment. The employer and the agency are responsible to follow the rules established by the Fair Credit Reporting Act in the ordering/processing of this pre-employment background search. The depth of the investigation varies from agency to agency - find out what it includes!
8. Agency will collect their fee when the employee starts work. Fees vary, ranging from $2000 - $5000. Established estate and home staffing agencies average $3500 - $7000 as their placement fee. This is often computed as a percentage of the employee's annual salary - 12% to 15% is standard.
9. Client and staff satisfaction should be checked within 1-4 weeks of employment. Agency can act as an intermediary to resolve any conflicts.

Internet Staffing Options: The Internet is fast becoming the preferred means of staffing domestic personnel, particularly for live in staff. The reason is that the internet allows the employer a greater breadth to their search - they can search nationwide or worldwide if they so choose. The internet is also the first means that many younger, educated, computer literate applicants use to secure positions. 4HomeHelp.com, a HomeWork Solutions company, pioneered the virtual domestic employment service concept in 1998.