Security Guides for Hiring Domestic Workers

Security guides for hiring domestic staff is worth all efforts in this era of collapsing extended family system and increasing acceptance of nuclear family. Domestic workers have come to close the gap created by absence of assistance from extended family members.

Domestic workers refer to persons employed by a home owner to provide home support services. Domestic workers may include nanny, maid, driver, security, cook, fitness instructor, home teacher or coach.

The rich and affluence needs domestic workers to keep their homes running to the satisfaction of their desired glamor. The middle-class group, women empowerment and the increasing presence of working-class mothers have also made it almost inevitable for modern urban families to function normal without hired domestic workers to fulfill home services. Domestic workers in all ramification are creating real time value in our contemporary society.

Regardless, there are associated potential security risks when domestic workers are hire without proper due diligence. Employing strangers into your private home automatically exposes yourself and your family to some risks. As such, it is essential to conduct some kind of security checks.

Note, not every domestic worker is a criminal; however, the rising cases of both simple, heinous and organized crimes committed by some domestic workers has casted some sort of apprehension in the mind of people who inevitably require their services. Hence, this security guide for public enlightenment.

See below basic security guides to apply when hiring and after hiring domestic workers.

• Hire from trusted source: contract employment of domestic workers to a registered and reputable Human Resources organization. A reputable HR company would carry out expected due diligence and maintain duty of care for its clients during the partnership. As much as possible, avoid artisanal or self-hire.
• Background check report: this should be mandatory. It would provide insight to past and possibly the present background of the applicant you intend to employ.
• Police character certificate: a mandatory report to have. This is issued by the Police to show criminal records about an applicant.
• Social media check: in this age of physical or virtual life it is also key to profile an applicant online using acceptable social media platforms such as Instagram, facebook, Twitter or X, etc. before a job is offered.
• Have a personnel file: maintain a periodically updated personnel file for domestic workers. Such file should contain relevant data which must include curriculum vitae, updated copy of guarantor forms, copy of recent full-glare photograph, updated copy of utility bill for non-residence workers, updated medical fitness report, a copy of standard identity card, Police clearance report and any other documents considered to have safety and security relevance. Having this updated records about a worker would create some security deterrence effect. Ensure to keep all personal information and records strictly confidential, and restricted access should apply.

If the applicant is successful and employment is offered, next phase of guide should include:

• Periodic medical fitness: to ascertain that applicant is fit to continue work.
• Monitor life their style: to know their associate, character, behavior, and manner. Do not take for granted any cue or clue which suggest that your domestic worker may possess a dangerous personality or may have motive associated with criminality.
• Install smart home CCTV: this would show surveillance of activities within the home and provide intelligent insight.
• Install smart panic alarm: this would be activated for assistance during emergency or dangerous situation.
• Keep valuables out of sight: this would prevent temptation to steal or to connive with others to organize home theft.
• Practice emotional intelligence: be humble, treat your workers nice, relate with them as a fellow human, not as slaves. Show empathy and care, give extra assistance when it is necessary.

In conclusion: it is believed that a reputable worker will be known, only after employment is given. Having domestic workers indeed exposes your home, yourself and family members to real time potential security and safety risks. It is advised to consciously take precautionary steps to know who you want to employ; during the contract, to know who you have employed. In this era of raw criminality, no efforts are too much to invest to have peace.

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About Author

Azubuike Nwenewo

is a seasoned Security Practitioner; Police Officer, Security Coach, Blogger and Author. He is passionate about peacebuilding and value protection. He is an advocate for positive peace and demilitarization. He likes reading and writing.

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