The challenges of hiring great live in help

Statistically and generally speaking, one of the most difficult domestic arrangements to find, manage, and sustain is that of a live in employee.  It is a universal challenge that all domestic staffing agencies are encountering.  Our application rejection rate for live in applicants is nine out of ten. This makes live in candidates very rare.   This fact speaks very loudly about the quality of persons who are applying for live in positions. Overwhelmingly we see the transient, displaced type looking for this type of employment.  Most often, this means they just need a place to live not that they will make a good employee.  If the applicant happens to pass our screening, and most do not, they almost never speak English ,drive, or have a place of their own to live on the weekends.  This is why they want to live in.  If a family hires someone under these circumstances and are later dissatisfied with their performance, what do you do with them??? 

Families also contribute to the the ill success of these arrangements by expecting a live in person to work 12,14,16 or more hour days, refusing to pay overtime because the person lives in their home. Of the great live in candidates that do successfully pass our screening, most have  worked as a live in before and refuse to continue because of the excessive hours they are expected to  work.  Therefore, if it is unfair to expect anyone to work passed a normal 8 or 10 hour work day, what is the benefit of having someone else to provide for living under your roof ??  There usually is none!  After just one week of a grueling schedule, you will have an employee who is exhausted, feeling that they are being taken advantage of and resentful.  

Do you really want someone like this living with you and watching your children?  That is a recipe for disappointment, disaster and having your employee quit on you.  South Florida Nannies, Inc. will not conspire with any family requesting placement of  a live in employee to work inhumane hours for less than minimum wage without the possibility of overtime compensation.  We highly recommend that families hire high quality live out help that goes home after a reasonable work day to their own family and comes back the next day refreshed and ready  to put in another day of work. If a live in arrangement is an absolute must, we will be happy to assist you provided that the expectations with regard to hours, pay and responsibilities fall within the scope of reasonable and fair to both parties. Please call one of our coordinators and we will customize a creative schedule that will provide you the hours of coverage that you need.