How To Do a Great First Week Handover With Your New Helper
Introduction: Why the First Week Matters
The first seven days with a new domestic helper quietly set the tone for the whole contract. Many Hong Kong employers are extremely busy, so the first week becomes a rush of documents, bank accounts, and “figure it out as you go.” The result is predictable: your helper guesses what you want, makes avoidable mistakes, and both of you start feeling disappointed.
But a good handover does not require a lot of extra time. It requires structure. If you treat the first week as “training week” instead of “test week,” you give your helper a fair chance to understand your home, your standards, and your family’s rhythm. That investment can save you months of frustration later.
This post offers a simple, realistic plan for the first week, especially for busy Hong Kong families. Adapt it to your home and your helper’s experience level. The goal is not a perfect house in seven days; the goal is a shared understanding that will grow over the next two years.
Before Day 1: Prepare, Don’t Improvise
Before your helper even walks into your home, take 30–60 minutes to prepare.
Write a basic daily schedule
Example: wake‑up time, breakfast, school runs, main cleaning block, cooking time, evening routine.
Keep it simple and flexible; it’s a starting point, not a prison.
List your non‑negotiables
These are the most important rules and standards (children’s safety, privacy, valuables, phone use during work, hygiene).
If everything is “top priority,” nothing is. Choose 5–7 key points.
Decide where things will live
Cleaning supplies, cloths, bins, recycling, laundry baskets, children’s toys.
If your helper spends the first week just hunting for things, she can’t focus on quality.
Prepare a simple “house book” (optional but powerful)
A cheap notebook with: routines, key phone numbers, addresses, Wi‑Fi password, reminders.
This becomes your shared reference so you repeat less and she forgets less.
Day 1: Welcome, Not Inspection
Day 1 is about relational safety and basic orientation, not about testing.
Start with a warm welcome
Introduce family members by name and what they like to be called.
Show her her room and bathroom, where to put her things, and where she can keep personal items safely.
Share the big picture of your family
Who works where, school schedules, elderly or special needs in the home, pets.
Briefly explain your expectations in one sentence: for example, “We value honesty, cleanliness, and kindness with our children.”
Explain non‑negotiable rules calmly
Phone use during working hours, visitors, food rules, security (doors, gas, keys).
Ask her to repeat key points in her own words to check understanding.
Keep Day 1 work light
Give simple, shorter tasks: unpacking, basic tidying, maybe a light meal.
She is tired, nervous, and overloaded. A “perfect” first day is not realistic.
Days 2–3: Demonstrate and Do Together
These days are for “show and do,” not “tell and disappear.”
Start with one area at a time
Example focus for Day 2: kitchen and dishes. Day 3: bathrooms and laundry.
Demonstrate once slowly, then let her do it while you watch.
Use clear, specific language
Instead of “clean properly,” say, “Please scrub this area until there is no grease, and then wipe it dry.”
Show what “finished” looks like: open cupboards, under sink, behind stove.
Invite questions on purpose
Ask: “What is unclear? What would you like me to repeat?”
Many helpers are shy to ask, especially in the first days. You must open the door.
Give immediate, gentle feedback
Correct small things right after the task: “This is good. Next time, please also wipe this corner.”
Always combine correction with at least one sincere encouragement.
Days 4–5: Build the Routine and Standards
Now you slowly move towards a more normal schedule.
Introduce a simple daily plan
For example:
Morning: breakfast, school run, tidy bedrooms, laundry.
Afternoon: main cleaning area of the day (kitchen Monday, bathrooms Tuesday, etc.).
Late afternoon: dinner prep, kitchen clean‑up.
Write it down and place it where she can see it.
Teach your standards, room by room
Walk through each area after she finishes cleaning and show details that matter to you.
Use phrases like: “For me, clean means…” and show specific spots she may miss.
Clarify cooking expectations
Discuss how often she will cook, dietary restrictions, spice levels, oil and salt preferences.
Start with simple dishes; consider letting her cook a Filipino dish on one day so you can see her style.
Keep communication daily
Take 5–10 minutes each evening to ask: “How was today? What is difficult? Any questions?”
This small habit can prevent misunderstandings from growing.
Days 6–7: Review, Adjust, and Encourage
By the end of the first week, both of you know more about each other.
Review the first week together
Ask: “What do you feel confident about? What is still confusing?”
Share the same from your side, calmly and clearly.
Adjust the routine where needed
If something in your plan is unrealistic, change it now instead of silently expecting the impossible.
Make sure she knows which tasks are “daily” and which are “weekly.”
Reinforce your priorities
Repeat your main values: honesty, children’s safety, respect for privacy, etc.
Make clear that you prefer she tells you bad news early rather than hide problems.
End the week with encouragement
Thank her for her effort in a new place and culture.
Mention specific things she has done well: “I appreciate how you care for the children,” or “The bathroom is much cleaner since you started.”
Common Mistakes Employers Make in the First Week
Even good employers fall into these traps:
Expecting “automatic” understanding
Assuming previous experience means she knows your way without teaching.
Correcting only when angry
Waiting until you are frustrated, then exploding about several days’ mistakes at once.
Overloading with too many rules
Giving a long list of 30 rules on Day 1 that nobody can remember.
Giving up too quickly
Deciding “she’s no good” within the first few days instead of coaching.
Avoiding these patterns will make your handover far more effective.
A Simple First Week Checklist
You can adapt this quick checklist for your fridge or house book:
Gave helper house tour and introduced family
Explained non‑negotiable rules
Walked through kitchen routines
Walked through bathroom and laundry routines
Explained basic daily schedule
Did at least one daily 5–10 minute check‑in
Reviewed week and agreed adjustments
If you can tick most of these by the end of Week 1, you are already ahead of many households.
Starting well does not guarantee a perfect contract. But a clear, kind first week gives your helper a fair chance to succeed and gives you a much stronger foundation to correct, guide, and build trust over time. A little planning now can save you many difficult conversations later.
