There’s a saying that goes: A good domestic worker is one of the blessings of modern life.

We all know how hard it is to find qualified maids and babysitters to take care of our house and kids nowadays. Indeed, having them at home sometimes only increases the difficulties in our lives.

However, if you’re lucky enough to find the ones that meet your requirements, I advise you to go the extra mile to keep them happy and satisfied. Picture yourself as a company and them as highly desirable employees. We all know that it’s not always the money that makes you stay, but general work satisfaction.

One of the things I would advise you to do is to take your maid on an excursion every once in a while; after all, the monotony of daily chores can get anyone down.

It’s important to let them stretch their legs and refresh their minds. It doesn’t have to be a costly trip. Planned right, a trip to a nearby mall can revitalize your domestic worker.

Here are a few options you could consider adding to your itinerary.

Ensure it’s after their pay day

So that they have money to buy things that they need.

Some people go further and cover all their maids' basic necessities. Even so, it’s always reassuring for them to know that they have a little money to spend during the day out.

Take them to the food court and treat them to the delicacies of their choice

They prepare good meals for you on a daily basis, and it’s time to return the favor.

For them, it is an interesting experience to try out new dishes. Explain patiently, as some options on the menu may not be familiar to them. Sometimes, they make also not feel comfortable ordering, so choose for them.

Allow them to stroll around the mall on their own

It’s their day out, so don’t ask them to push the groceries trolley or baby stroller the whole time. Allow them to spend an hour wandering the mall by themselves while you enjoy your time with the baby in a nearby coffee shop.

You may want to consider going to malls that sell things that are affordable for them; fancy malls may be quite intimidating for them.

Take them to the cinema

Many maids have never been to the movies. Treating them to tickets to a local movie could be a very memorable experience for them.

Don’t forget to tell them the ground rules, like putting their phones on silent mode, not talking loudly and not dropping litter.

Buy them souvenirs

They will appreciate some little souvenirs from the trip like pouches, hair accessories or slippers. Again, they don’t have to be costly.

This gesture shows them that you are paying attention to their needs, and that they are being taken care of.

Having a qualified and loyal domestic worker can lift a huge amount of stress from our life over the years. They allow us to focus on our jobs and our kids, and even have some quality time with ourselves.

In the end, it’s human nature to want to be treated with respect and be appreciated – and domestic workers are no exception.

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The writer is a professional marketing practitioner focusing on brand building and consumer engagement. She is currently working as manager in one of multinational company in Jakarta. You can find her other writings at https://www.inspirasi.co/mutimuti.

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