Domestic Help in Mexico

One of the first things foreigners notice when they arrive is the amount of maids and chauffeurs their friends have working for them in Mexico. Most expatriates are not used to having domestic help, especially not with live-in maids, for example, so most of them will find this new experience a pleasant change, although it could also prove to be a trying one. Nevertheless, the advantages of having permanent domestic help outweigh any possible discomforts. Beside their main work, they can be invaluable in providing security by keeping the house occupied, they can take care of daily chores such as babysitting, taking care of pets, answering phones and other daily tasks which may need attending to while the home owner is absent.

Mexican households depend on a whole host of people who work outside of the formal labor force in people's houses. Most arrive via recommendations. Some, when you rent or buy a house, were working there before and so stay on with the new family. It is important to note that, despite the fact that they are a part of the underground economy, a good labor lawyer working on behalf of a disgruntled employee can still cost the former employer money, so it is best to keep the professional relationship cordial.

The working situation between the hired help and their employers is very informal. Its success will depend on good communication between employer and employee, as well as finding the right balance between professionalism and cordiality on the part of the employer. Due to the informality of the relationship, it's not uncommon to find a domestic servant simply walk away from his or her job in the case of friction or discontent. A lot of people who happily offer real estate services and other relocation help stay away from providing advice on people to work in the home - they figure they don't want to be held responsible if the person they recommend steals something or simply walks off. In any case, it's best to set a probationary period during which either party may get accustomed to each other and the work relationship. In the case of dissatisfaction, the relationship can be terminated with no further hassle. One will find, however, that the quality of domestic help is generally very good, the quantity of options plentiful, and the expense to the employer minimal. top 

Dealing With Domestic Help in Mexico

As mentioned above, a balance is essential. One should in no way make any concessions on professionalism, as this will most probably only lead to abuse on the part of the employee. Nor should one stifle their employee with rigid regulations, as this will almost certainly backfire. Despite the ever courteous and pleasant demeanor of Mexicans, they will show their displeasure in other, less confrontational ways. Either the work will suffer, or the worker will disappear.

One should deal with all the details of the work involved before the employee even starts his or her probationary period. No detail is insignificant. Here are some important pointers:

• Make sure you get some information on the person you plan to hire, in the form of letters of recommendation and/or by word of mouth.
• If you don't speak Spanish, get a bilingual person to help you, as the person you're hiring will not speak English.
• Establish your policy on uniforms - i.e. whether one will be worn or not.
• Agree on the salary (which will be paid either monthly or, most probably, fortnightly) and find out what other people are paying.
• In the case of maids, establish whether or not you want them to cook (although cooking is generally expected of maids in Mexico).
• Most importantly, show your potential employee what you want done and how you want it done.

Usually it takes a week or two for your employee to get the hang of things and for the house to be running smoothly. One should know within the probationary period whether the relationship is going to work out or not. It is also a good idea to know about your potential employee's health and family situation. top 

Know Your Employee's Rights

Unless you want someone to come around once or twice a week as a day maid, it's best to hire a live-in maid. It's your responsibility to provide a room, bed, bathroom, and the necessary comforts to help her settle in. A day maid can expect an hour off during the day for rest and for her meal.

In terms of taking time off, servants usually have Sunday as a holiday, since they have a legal right to take 24 hours off for every six days of work. If your helpers live far away (as often they do), they may need some extra time off. Servants will also expect to take holidays off, those holidays generally being January 1 (New Year's Day), February 5 (Constitution Day), March 21 (Birthday of Benito Juarez), May 1 (Labor Day), September 16 (Independence Day), November 20 (Revolution Day) and December 25 (Christmas Day). A Christmas bonus is expected. The amount of the bonus should be incrementally indexed to the amount of time worked. A Christmas bonus to the amount of half a month's salary is expected for someone who has been working in your household for a year.

Health costs may be involved in hiring a maid. The employer will only be responsible, however, for a chronic disease acquired on the job. The employer will also be expected to pay for medical costs in the case of any injuries sustained on the job by the employee.

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