How to Handle Helper Absenteeism?

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Need to hire ABCDE – Aya, Bai, Cook, Driver, Elder care for your home? Running short of time? Is the hiring stressing you out? Fed up of unorganized Agents charging high fees, promising a lot but not delivering? Or worried about hiring unverified candidates? These are very good reasons to use Helper4U. Choose from our Cost-effective, Fast, Safe options, which include a Six Month Replacement Guarantee

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Helper4U helps you hire Helpers - Better, Faster, Safer. We use technology to connect employers with Housekeeping staff, Maids, Nanny, Cook, Driver, Caregivers & everyone similar, on their mobile, without the need for any agency or middleman.

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A Helping Hand in Work Life Balance

Today work life balance is becoming a necessity and also challenging at the same time. The challenge increase manifold for women. This is the time when we should put technology to work to find some balance. Online portals for hiring domestic workers are one such technology which comes to the aid of all of us struggling to find a balance in our lives. These portals can contribute significantly to improving work-life balance for individuals and families.

Here’s how:

Time Efficiency:

· Streamlined Hiring Process: Online portals provide a centralized platform to connect employers with domestic workers. This streamlined process saves time that would otherwise be spent on traditional methods like word-of-mouth referrals or local advertisements. What’s more — you can do the hiring 24*7 — even while traveling or at night.

· Quick Access to Profiles:

Users can easily browse through profiles, view candidate details, and compare qualifications, enabling faster decision-making in the hiring process. Helper4U.in even offers a chat facility with Helpers before you actually start talking to Helpers on the phone. This helps save precious time in getting the critical questions answered before you invest time in a detailed interview.

Wider Talent Pool:

· Diverse Skillsets: Online platforms widen the pool of available domestic workers, allowing employers to find candidates with specific skill sets that align with their needs. This diversity can lead to a better match between the employer’s requirements and the worker’s capabilities.

· Accessibility: Employers can access a larger number of potential domestic workers, even those located in different neighborhoods or cities, expanding their options.

Transparent Communication:

· Clear Expectations: Online portals often provide a platform for clear communication between employers and domestic workers. Expectations regarding duties, working hours, and compensation can be discussed and agreed upon between the employer and the employee directly, before hiring.

· Rating and Review Systems: Many platforms include rating and review systems, allowing employers to assess the performance of domestic workers based on the experiences of other users. This transparency can help in making informed decisions.

Flexible Hiring Options:

· Part-Time and Full-Time Options: Online portals often cater to both part-time and full-time domestic work requirements. This flexibility allows individuals to find solutions that suit their specific needs, promoting a better work-life balance.

· Temporary Assistance: Employers can hire domestic workers for specific periods or tasks, allowing for temporary assistance during busy times or when additional support is needed.

Reduced Stress and Workload:

· Outsourcing Tasks: Hiring domestic help through online portals allows individuals to delegate certain tasks, reducing their overall workload. This can lead to less stress and more time for personal and professional pursuits.

· Focus on Core Responsibilities: With domestic tasks managed by hired help, individuals can focus more on their core responsibilities, whether that be work-related tasks or spending quality time with family.

Professionalism and Reliability:

· Verification Processes: Reputable online platforms often have verification processes in place, ensuring that domestic workers have valid backgrounds and references. This contributes to a sense of professionalism and reliability.

· Contracts and Agreements: Online platforms may facilitate the creation of formal contracts and agreements, providing a clear understanding of the terms of employment. This clarity contributes to a more stable and predictable work environment.

Emergency Support:

· Replacement Services: In case a hired domestic worker is unavailable due to illness or other emergencies, some online portals offer replacement services. This ensures continuity in household support, preventing disruptions to the employer’s routine.

While online portals for hiring domestic workers offer numerous benefits, it’s essential to approach the process with diligence, ensuring that both employers and domestic workers are treated fairly and professionally. Clear communication, mutual respect, and adherence to labor regulations contribute to a positive and balanced work-life arrangement.

About Helper4U.in: Helper4U.in is a 9-year-old platform for the hiring of ABCDE — Aya, Bai, Cook, Driver, and Eldercare. It was the pioneer in the field when hiring domestic workers online was unheard of. It enables the hiring of verified Helpers across India, without the need of any middleman — Better, Faster, and Safer hiring with replacement and refund options.

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Domestic Helper Salary In India

In India, domestic help is an integral part of many households. From cooking and cleaning to childcare and eldercare, maids play a crucial role in the smooth functioning of daily life for numerous families across the country. However, determining an appropriate salary for these essential workers can be a complex and often contentious issue. Factors such as location, duties, experience, and economic conditions all come into play when discussing fair compensation.

In this blog, we delve into the factors influencing the approximate salaries for Indian domestic helpers.

Factors Influencing Maid Salaries:

Location: The cost of living varies significantly across India, with metropolitan areas generally commanding higher wages compared to tier 2 cities. Cities like Mumbai, Delhi, and Bangalore typically offer higher salaries to domestic workers due to higher living expenses. Even within the cities, the locations make a difference in the salary. Affluent societies obviously will have helpers asking for more salaries.

Skillset and Experience: Experienced maids who possess advanced culinary skills, proficiency in household chores, or specialized knowledge such as caring for infants or elderly family members may command higher wages. If the Helper knows English, they demand a slightly higher salary too, as they can bring in a lot of value add – reading stories to your kids, helping them with homework, talking to your kids and guests in English, communicating on WhatsApp, etc

Working Hours: The number of hours worked per day or week often directly correlates with the salary. Full-time maids who work long hours are usually compensated more than those working part-time. Again, suppose you need someone at an odd hour like at 6 in the morning or post 7 in the evening. In that case, it is expected that you will pay extra – just like in a corporate setup where an extra amount, pick and drop, and sometimes even meals are provided if the employee works outside the 9 to 6 time frame, especially if the employee is a female.

Additional Responsibilities: Some households may require additional tasks beyond basic cleaning and cooking, such as gardening, pet care, or running errands. Maids who undertake these extra responsibilities may negotiate higher salaries.

Supply and Demand: In areas where domestic help is scarce, wages may be driven up due to increased demand. Conversely, in regions with a surplus of available maids, salaries may remain stagnant or even decrease.

Approximate Salary Ranges:

While precise figures may vary depending on the aforementioned factors, here are approximate salary ranges for Indian maids based on various parameters:

Metro Cities (e.g., Mumbai, Delhi, Bangalore):

Full-time maid (8-10 hours/day): ₹12,000 - ₹20,000 per month

Part-time maid (4-5 hours/day): ₹6,000 - ₹10,000 per month

Tier 2 Cities (e.g., Pune, Jaipur, Chandigarh):

Full-time maid (8-10 hours/day): ₹8,000 - ₹15,000 per month

Part-time maid (4-5 hours/day): ₹4,000 - ₹8,000 per month

Rural Areas and Small Towns:

Full-time maid (8-10 hours/day): ₹5,000 - ₹10,000 per month

Part-time maid (4-5 hours/day): ₹3,000 - ₹6,000 per month

*The salaries can also be calculated on a per-work or per-hour basis. Sometimes, gated societies also set the base salary taking into consideration all the above factors. One such salary fixing document is attached. These are the base rates, and employers are at liberty to pay more. After all, it depends upon the urgency of their needs.

Conclusion:

Determining fair wages for Indian domestic helpers involves considering various factors such as location, type of work, experience, and prevailing economic conditions. While the salary ranges provided here can serve as a guideline, employers need to assess each situation individually and negotiate fair compensation that reflects the maid's skills and contributions. By engaging in fair negotiations and ensuring respectful treatment, both employers and employees can foster positive and mutually beneficial working relationships.

If at any time you think of hiring a domestic helper, you can explore options on Helper4U. Helper4U offers a cost-effective solution for finding part-time or full-time domestic helpers. With over 1 lakh plus verified helpers registered on their website, Helper4U allows you to communicate directly with potential candidates before hiring. This direct interaction ensures clear communication and understanding of your requirements.

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What Is It And Why You Should Use It?

There are many ways of Hiring Domestic & Office Helpers Nowadays.  Many Agencies  & Job portals offer hiring services through a website. Most of them move to an offline Agency mode after collecting your requirements online. Helper4U is one of these online service providers, with a small difference - It is not an agency and allows employers to see detailed profiles of Helpers online, and contact them directly.

What Exactly is Helper4U?

Helper4U is an employment exchange on mobile for Domestic & Office Helpers. It connects the employers for Aaya, Bai, Cook, Driver & similar Office Helpers with suitable, verified Job Seekers in their locality, as per the criteria of age, gender, experience, salary etc. In doing so it removes the need for any Agency or middleman for the Job Seeker as well as Giver. Therefore, the advantages of this are many if you want to hire a maid, cook, driver, caregiver, peon or delivery boy. You hire Safer, Faster, Cheaper.

1)Safety, Security Assured Trustworthy Candidates

You can choose Helpers from a Database of over 100,000 Candidates. We make sure that all Candidates you're looking at are genuine, & looking for a job. Each of the Helpers is Aadhar Verified. We also provide Criminal Background check as well as an Address Check through a physical visit, for the helper you hire. What is more that you do not need to do anything in all this as it is an online process?

Every candidate has a star rating, based on employer feedback, our teams' interaction with them as well as their responses to previous job offers. So, you are not dependent on referrals for your hiring.

2) Multiple Options, Easy Shortlisting and Hiring

The procedure of hiring a helper is very Simple. Use the "Search Filters" for location, job category, work timings, age, gender, job description etc. to get a list of Helpers matching your exact needs, ready to work in your location. Check their detailed profiles to know their personal and work details. If the candidate profile is old, request for Info using the option on each profile so that the Helper4U team can update you on availability of the profile. 

You will get multiple options. This is important as you need to have a choice when you are letting someone into your house. Talk to the candidates you like. Interview them all in detail and hire the best. 

To hire a Maid, Cook, Nanny, Caregiver, Driver or Delivery boy etc is now as simple as shopping online, without being dependent on anyone. You can complete your search in your own time, on the go.

3) Transparency in Payments and Dealings

For our services, you only have to pay a one-time, very nominal, upfront fee. You get multiple options to choose from, depending upon your preference. This allows you to get contact Helpers you find worthy of interviewing & hiring, discounted verification, interview assistance to interview the cook or driver or peon or maid online etc. You get a FREE job posting to reach many more candidates in your target location. There are no additional fees, recurring charges or hidden fees. 

All our dealings are transparent and charges are mentioned upfront. The refund policy is also automated and you do not have to contact us for any refund. 

The Helper pays nothing to us and is never asked to leave your job for another one.

4) Replacement & Guarantee

The easy replacement policy makes it convenient to hire a maid online with a one-time fee.

Helper4U has a "No questions asked" Replacement policy when you hire domestic helpers or office helpers from the website. You can easily find someone else when the Helper takes leave or leaves for a new job. What is more, the whole process is automated, so you don't have to call us. If your hire from us we give FREE 6 months helper replacement also.

5) Trained Candidates

All candidates registered on Helper4U are trained using our mobile-based training in Honesty, Neatness, Etiquette, Punctuality and good manners. Additionally, they are trained in some job-specific skills like nutritious food, feeding children or the elderly, driving etiquette, mobile etiquette etc.

The above things help you hire the best helpers for home and office.  Some additional points related to the safety of the online platform are given below.

6)Secure Experience on the Website

Whenever you try to visit a New Website first of all you think about whether the Website is Secure or maybe not. There are many ways to check whether a website is genuine or not. These are given below, and Helper4U gets a green tick for all -

a) Connection Security Indicators

HTTP = Bad HTTPS = Good

Never trust an HTTP website with your personal information.

b) Certificate Details

You can also check the certificate for Security by clicking the padlock icon in the address bar

c) Look for Trust Seals

Trust seals are commonly placed on homepages, login pages, and checkout pages. They’re immediately recognizable and they remind visitors that they are secure on this page even more. Some of these are:

i)Corporate Clients

Many corporations have used Helper4U services to hire for their business.

ii)Testimonials

Moreover, when it comes to all businesses websites, the success of the site depends heavily on word of mouth. Helper4U has been getting good feedback from employers as well as job seekers since it started. You can check User stories & Testimonials on our Website, How Helper4U has in some way impacted the life of both Employer & Seeker. We have an average Google rating of above 4, which is very good in online business, where people are happier writing negative than positive reviews.

iii) Awards & Recognition

Helper4U is a well recognized social sector startup, not only in India but Internationally.

Awards & Recognition encourages customers to choose and stay loyal to the company. It builds customers' trust in the company.

In conclusion, the above ensures that Helper4U is a trustworthy, reliable, cost effective Online Service Website which can help you find & hire a maid online, Nanny, Cook, Driver, Delivery Boy, Peon, Telecaller, Data Entry staff and Housekeepers as per your need. 

To hire Better-Faster-Cheaper to hire on Helper4U.

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How To Find A Good Job?

Are you looking for a job? Finding a job has never been an easy task, and on top of it when you are a domestic helper like a maid, cook or babysitter it becomes a very difficult thing. One doesn’t know whether there are vacancies or where people need you the most. I have seen most helpers getting their work through referral from friends, security guards or drivers.

Our country’s technology has progressed so much that now everything can be done via an app. There’s an app for everything, from ordering meals to finding love, and the job search is no exception.

The job search may be divided into four stages: professional connections, job research, job applications, and the employer interaction or the interview stage.

Problems Faced In Finding A Job

The road to finding a job is filled with obstacles and stumbling blocks. Let us learn some of the problems in detail:-

You have no idea where to look.

This is a common issue for first-time job searchers as well as those who have been out of the workforce for a certain period. On the one hand, you have limited time and don’t want to lose it going down a dead end. On the other hand, you want to be sure to follow up on any prospective employment lead you come across.

2. You don’t have any kind of network

The proverb “It’s not what you know, it’s who you know” is especially applicable to the job search process in the twenty-first century. Getting an interview, or even a job, is frequently considerably aided by knowing someone in the place you want to do the work, or at least someone who can put in a good word for you. So create a network, through personal connects or online networking sites like LinkedIn. Keep in touch with old employers, professors and friends.

Interesting information — Today, 65 percent of job searchers use their smartphones to search for employment throughout the world 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

3. You’re having trouble finding the right opportunities

When you start looking for a career, you may become upset because you aren’t finding the types of positions you want to apply for. This is when having a plan comes in handy. First list your key skills and research where these skills can be useful.

You might not be looking in the correct locations to locate the employment you’re looking for. Do some preliminary research to find out where organizations are posting the types of jobs you’re searching for. They might not be using big job-hunting websites. They may be using employee networks, newspapers, pamphlets etc.

Looking for a job no longer necessitates reading through newspaper classifieds or restricting oneself to desktop websites. We know there are many apps for job seekers for blue-collar workers working in businesses, but none for domestic workers. Helper4U has launched an app just for Maids, Cook, Drivers, Caregivers, Nannies and Delivery Boys. Mobile applications have evolved to speed up and simplify the whole job hunt, allowing an emerging smartphone-dominated world to network, browse, apply, and interact on their own time and terms.

4. There are many people applying for the same position

When the employment market is strong and employers have more openings than they can fill, there is less competition, thus this is not an issue. When the employment market is slow, though, there are fewer openings to fill, and competition may be strong. You have to make a great first impression on mobile as well as on face-to-face interviews, acquire better skills, and write a great resume. 

5. You are not getting a call for an interview

Sometimes it doesn’t even matter how many people you ask for a job but you just can’t manage to get a call for that interview. In such a case, it does not matter how many years of experience you have in a certain field. To overcome this, try and get references from your superiors, old bosses, teachers, etc. Very often people hire only based on references. Join networking sites like LinkedIn and create connections with people you know. Employers often check your LinkedIn connections before calling you.

6. You’re not getting any offers

You’ve cleared the interview obstacle, but you’re never the one who gets the job. This is a significant obstacle to getting work, and you may feel helpless. After all, how can you persuade an employer to alter their mind? The question to ask is, “How did the interview go?” When it comes to establishing a good impression, even basic things like appearing on time may make a difference in an employer’s mind. So prepare well before an interview.

There are chances that your employer offers you work after the interview but offers you a salary that is below the prevailing market rate. Such employers ignore your experience and the quality of work you will provide. Be prepared to highlight your strong points and what you bring to the table. Research the company and job before you apply and tell the employer what they gain by hiring you.

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Everything Has A Price! 

You are not paying just to contact Helpers, but the chances are high that you will be able to close your hiring also without any other monthly payment etc.

The fact that you are trying to use Helper4U to hire candidates shows that chances are high that you have not been happy with the results of hiring a helper through other means. You pay us a very small amount to use one more effective medium to supplement and complement your search. This will help you close your hiring with the best options. Afterall you are hiring someone for your own home and need to have the best options.

You already know how difficult it is to find a Maid, Cook, nanny, Caregiver or Driver for your needs, near you. The employers and job seekers live in different geographies and have little chance to meet each other, unlike in a corporate hiring where most are in the same society limits. So how do the two connect directly? Without any middleman?

We have worked to compile this database of millions of workers to enable this connection. Helper4U team spends 75% of its time and resources in onboarding domestic helpers with detailed resume and document verification, and making them available to you for interview - using an intelligent and simple to use platform.

Our Software engineers constantly work to make the application easy and fun to use so that you get the best matches and close the hiring in the best possible manner, with minimal need to contact us for anything. This enables you to find Helpers hyper locally, on your mobile, without the need to talk to anyone and step out of the comfort of your homes.

You pay us not only for the above opportunity to hire an available, verified, suitable maid, cook, nanny, caregiver or driver, but also for a host of other advantages. Some of these are:

Verified candidates from locations you want.

Multiple candidate options to interview on phone, video call or face to face interview, as may be the need.

Detailed resumes, with picture, video interviews and rating options.

Star rating on candidates to help you choose.

Live, transparent database, which even shows you when the candidate was last active.

Support from Helper4U team in case you are unable to contact a candidate

Free verification post hiring

Easy refund policy

Access to Helper4U tips for managing your Helpers

Option of counseling of your hired Helper by a specialist

Easy to use application

The charges are actually very nominal when you compare with the advantages and saving of your time and effort. An agency may charge you a month's salary for the hiring, and you may not even get a safe, verified helper as per your choice. Our fees are about a tenth of that and with better guarantees and services with full hiring control in your hands.

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Why Does Experience Matter?

Domestic Worker Sector Skill Council, National Skill Development Corporation and Skill India had recently organized a Domestic Workers Skill Summit 2017 at India Habitat Centre on 2nd February 2017. I got an opportunity to attend the summit as a volunteer for Helper4U.

The Chief Guest for the Skill Council event was Hon’ble Minister of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship Mr. Rajiv Pratap Rudy.

The main speakers of the event were

Mr. Amod K Kanth(Chairman DWSSC), Mr. Amitabh Kant(CEO, Niti Aayog), Mr. Manish Kumar(MD & CEO, National Skill Development Corporation), Mr. M C Luther(Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India).

The agenda for the day had presentations of different companies in this sector like Educomp, KPMG, and Hamara angels and four-panel discussions.

The topics of the panel discussions were as follows:

From policy to practice: Addressing Legal Safeguards

Breaking Barriers: Unmasking the invisibility of domestic workers

Skill for future: New age training, talents, and utilities

Path of reform: From unorganized sector and technology reinforcement

I attended this Skill Council summit as part of the Helper4U team along with my friend. We handled the company stall, attended to visitors and explained our organization to them. Helper4U is a 2 ½-year-old organization. It is an online placement portal to provide job opportunities to domestic workers like Aaya, Bai, Cook, Driver & Everyone similar and connect them to the Employers without the need of a middleman. All this by just using a mobile phone! Helper4U attended the summit so that the visitors and other stallholders could know this concept and use the platform effectively.

In the fourth panel Mrs. Meenakshi Jain (Founder of Helper4U) was one of the speakers in this panel. Abhiraj Singh Bhal (CEO and Co-founder of Urban Clap), Sameer Nagpal(Director CoCubes) etc were also part of the panel.

During the discussion

Meenakshi shared some case studies to emphasize how technology is being used by Helper4U to scale up placements while also providing better & more opportunities to Job Seekers at the Bottom of the Economic Pyramid. She explained how a platform like Helper4U can be used by all training partners . To place the trainees better and faster, at nearly no marketing expense.

She shared the details of the H4U Jobs app. This App will soon be available for the Job Seekers for access to job opportunities as well as better interaction with prospective Employers.

Meenakshi also explained how use of technology does away with the exploitation of the workers at the Bottom of the Economic Pyramid at every stage. Finally, she shared her vision of using technology to upskill these workers with E learnings at their pace and place, as well as for marketing products targeted at them.

It was a great experience to visit the summit as I have learned how to manage a stall. I also interacted with many intellectual people visiting the summit. The speeches were enriching . We were able to learn many new things which helped me in understanding the topic properly. It was truly a wonderful experience for me. At last I want to say that this sector needs more focus by the government which will help reduce the current state of unemployment.

Siddhant Arya

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Empowering Urban Slums

IIM Student Field Work

Over the past few weeks, Helper4U has been conducting Field Work and surveys in urban slums across. ( Delhi, Mumbai, Raipur, Cuttack, Ranchi, Gurugram) and many more. It is part of a Summer Internship program with Students from IIM Raipur. These interns are trying to understand the problems faced by the unorganized workers. Especially domestic workers, Maids, Nannies, Cooks, Drivers, etc, in their job search. They are also educating the men & women of urban slums about Helper4U, & how they can get a job as per their requirement with respect & dignity, without paying a single penny to anyone as commission. Another part of their survey is to talk to employers to understand the challenges they face in hiring maids near them, retaining helpers, and using online platforms to hire maids.

The account below is from Vivek Lakra, who is working in Delhi slums, meeting women looking to work as Maids, Nannies or Cooks in homes across Delhi. Reading it you may feel, their hopes, aspirations, and challenges are not much different from women in the so-called upper strata of the society.

My Experience

"We came across many people who were unemployed & looking for a job for a living. Mostly, males were interacting with us. Fewer women were trying to know our cause. They were just curiously watching from their houses."

Women Facing Male Patriarchy

......But during our groundwork in slums we came across a woman who was uneducated, runs a small store in one of the slums near North Campus, Delhi University.  We had a chat about how we were facing problems registering ladies to the portal & she responded, "Most ladies in our slums have told themselves that they don't need to work. They are happy in their comfort zone & feel they have already reached their destination. Most have no aspirations, even though every day is a struggle for them."

She added "Males here largely have a patriarchal attitude. They feel they will provide everything that their home needs. They won't send the lady out of the house to work as it will mean that they are incapable of taking care of their families. In their minds they have convinced themselves that they are happy. Some are even afraid that if women start working they will be out of their control. ......Many women want to work but don't know how to find work, even if their husbands may allow them to work."

Concern for Their Children's Future is Universal

This lady was herself concerned about getting her children employed as it was difficult for them to get a job in her locality. We told her about Helper4U & how we help people at the bottom of the economic pyramid get better job opportunities, near their homes, without any physical or financial exploitation. She understood the process and then registered her son, who has completed his class 11 with Helper4U for a delivery boy or office boy job.

The lady also promised to get her daughter to register too for a telecaller or babysitter's job. She, in fact, thanked us for reaching out to her and hoped we can help both her kids find a good job near their homes.  Then, lovingly offered us some food, something which many of us don't do when guests visit our homes. Lastly, she promised to spread the news about Helper4U among other ladies of the slum and encourage them to become independent & get a job with respect.

Need for Respect

Even though she was not educated, she understood the need for women to work.  As per her, women want to work, and are ready to work as domestic helpers. For them, it is not a career, but a way to manage their homes. The only thing they want is to be treated with respect when they go out to work in someone's home. She also understood how mobile phones can be used to do much more than just talk! Ladies like her can prove to be the breakthrough point to the ladies in the slums."

This lady proves that lack of education does not necessarily mean that you can't be progressive.

About Helper4U

Helper4U.in is an employment exchange on the mobile for the unskilled and uneducated workers. Looking to find work as Helpers in Offices or homes. It enables employers to find maids, baby sitters, cooks, caregivers, drivers, delivery boys & office boys by just using their mobiles, without an agency. As part of its process, Helper4U regularly goes out into the field to understand the challenges faced by job seekers as well as employers. 

Read our blog to know what are the challenges faced by domestic workers in India.

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Mumbai Slums: Dark Side Of Mumbai

In the last three years, I have visited many slums in Mumbai. Largely to understand their problems and how best we can use the Helper4U platform to alleviate some issues. In the process, we have come across extraordinary people working in the slums. Tirelessly without much support from the government and still achieving something meaningful.

Dharavi Diary

Last Sunday, we interacted with Dharavi Diary, an organization founded by filmmaker and entrepreneur, Nawneet Ranjan, who has been running a computer center for kids in Dharavi for more than three years now. What started as a center to familiarize the kids with computers has gradually evolved into a place that offers the kids an opportunity to take part in a variety of experiences, ranging from photography and street theater to mural painting and CODING on their own. This from kids of maids, cooks, drivers, or daily wage earners, who have had little exposure to computer-related training.

What really surprised me was that the center was full of girls sitting together doing their homework, with the older ones also helping the younger ones. Many of these girls do not find even a corner to study at home. They were happy to have a dedicated room, where everyone around them was present only with one aim, which is to learn something.

LEARN SOMETHING

The happy faces and chatter of these girls filled me with a strange hope: There is still hope for these girls. They will surely do something worthwhile with their lives. They will at least not work as menial labor!

Beti Padhao Beti Bachao

Being a firm believer in Beti Padhao Beti Bachao I hope organizations like Dharavi Diary are supported better. Helper4U will surely do its bit by working to generate employment opportunities for the families in the area. As a start, we have committed to employing some of the older kids as part of our data entry team.

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Toilet: A luxury For Some

That Toilet is a basic need is something we do not realize since all our homes have not one, but many toilets. But, the importance of toilets was brought home to me when I started Helper4U. When we rented out our first office space, we were on a shoestring budget, and thus had a space constraint. To tide over this, we encouraged girls among our staff to work from home if possible. But, we were amazed to find that they all preferred working from the office rather than from home, even if it meant they could earn more and could also work flexi-time. This was quite surprising because as working women most of us would jump at the opportunity to work flexi-time, not travel, spend more time at home, and still earn more.

Having a Toilet: A luxury for some

On doing some simple research it turned out that the simple reason for this was the absence of a toilet at their homes. All these girls were from slums nearby. They had to use a communal toilet, which was always very dirty, and had no water supply most of the time. Even if all else was well, they had to wait in a queue to use it. That was the first time we realized the impact a toilet can have on people’s lives. Hence we say: Toilet Ek Jaroorat (Toilet is a basic need)

For millions of women, therefore, having a toilet means becoming free: A toilet can be Freedom For Her from so many things. Even for men from slums, it is a luxury. Many drivers come early to work so that they can use the cleaner, and more accessible toilets in the buildings of their employers. This is in stark contrast to the dirty ones in their slums. We, the more blessed ones (with at least one toilet at home) cannot even imagine how not having a toilet can impact the whole life of people, right from what they eat, when they eat, and how they ”go”.

This is not the situation in India alone. Globally, millions still suffer the fear and indignity of relieving themselves in the open or in unsafe or unhygienic conditions — a situation that is most dangerous for girls and women. For more than 1.1 billion women and girls globally, a lack of toilets results in an increased risk of poor health, limited education, harassment, and even attack. WaterAid’s third annual report reveals that women and girls bear the brunt of the Global Sanitation Crisis. Not having access to a toilet puts girls at risk of harassment and attack when finding somewhere to relieve themselves or manage menstruation. Lack of a decent toilet at schools is also a reason for many girls to miss or drop out of school.

How important toilets are for girls can be also gauged from the happy faces of these females posing next to a toilet. Would any of us ever think of posing next to a toilet, leave alone smiling away too?

Some interesting facts about toilets

India tops the list for the longest line for the toilet. While there has been immense progress in improving access to sanitation through the Swachh Bharat (Clean India) Mission, there are still more than 355 million women and girls in India waiting for access to basic sanitation. If they would make a line, it would stretch around the earth more than four times.

Around 289,000 children under five die every year from diarrhea related diseases caused by poor water and sanitation. That’s almost 800 children a day, or one child every two minutes.

Between 2000 and 2015, people defecating in the open dropped from 1.2 billion globally. (20% of the global population) to 892 million (12%). Still enough waste is produced in the open to fill seven bathtubs every second.

This World Toilet Day, on November 19, governments are pledging to do their bit. But, how can we homeowners support this basic human right?

One simple suggestion for all homeowners

Allow your domestic Helpers to use your toilets if they need to go. Rather than send them to the road or bushes nearby, allow them to use your toilets. After all, once flushed, the waste goes through the same process, irrespective of who generated it. Similarly, if someone defecates in the open. And in many of our homes, they are the ones cleaning it. And who knows, they may already be using it in your absence. So, allow them to use it, and feel the joy of giving.

We are all prone to diseases, again, irrespective of who generated it, and where. So prevent it the most you can. A simple gesture at your end will help keep the surroundings in our cities clean.

Allow Helpers to Use Your Toilet. Discourage the use of open spaces that are open defecation.

Remember: Having a toilet is a human rights issue. Everyone has a right to health and dignity. Let us pledge to contribute to it the best we can.

[hiremaid-verifiedhelpers]

Report of Survey of ABCDE: Find Out What ABCDE Means

Introduction

According to a survey, Helper4u is a concept of a fast, effective way of hiring verified, local ABCDE — Aaya, Bai, Cook, Driver, and Everyone similar without any middleman. It was started by Meenakshi Gupta Jain and Punit Jain to help, connect and fulfill the needs of the people who need jobs and to earn a living. With the kind of lives we have today, there is a dire need for Helpers everywhere in our society. The tricky part is to get a good one without the struggle and in a short time.

Helper4U has a very unique concept to deal with this. It helps the poor, uneducated, and/or unemployed people get employment by showing their information on their website. Based on that, Helper4U targets suitable employers. Meenakshi has been connecting different job givers and job seekers, across different fields of work, especially domestic help, for 3 years.

FABS students were given projects to survey some localities, and analyze the problems faced by the ABCDE. They also educated them about Helper4U so that they can find jobs with dignity.

Survey Report

LOCATION

Our group conducted the survey in southern parts of Mumbai at Mahalaxmi, Wadi Bunder and Masjid Bunder. Initially, it was difficult for the surveyors to connect with the people as they were not finding us trustworthy. This is because many agents try to exploit them in the name of jobs. We tried to make them understand the concept of Helper4U which was then accepted by many of the people. Those who were still confused were given the pamphlets and also shown the Helper4u website.

MAJOR PROBLEMS

Major problems the job seekers had were related to finding jobs near homes and with good pay. This was true even when they were desperate to find work. Traveling long distances to work is something no one wanted to do. This was mostly because the payment did not increase much even if they traveled far.

At Wadi Bunder, there were some ladies who sell flowers and earn their living, and also work as maids, cooks and babysitters to earn more. We realized how difficult it is for them to manage time doing multiple jobs since domestic work does not really pay well. 48% of the women we met did some work or the other to run their homes, but without any support at home to take care of their children, homes, shopping, cooking etc. They manage their work as well as all responsibilities at home. Often they had to leave young children (as young as 2–3 years) at home alone while they went out to work. Can we imagine that in our homes? That is also a reason they need to work near home.

PEOPLE’S PERCEPTION

A lady who had her own business at Mahalaxmi race course was happy in sharing the information of her son and daughter. The boy was doing graduation and the girl was 12th pass. Both needed to study and wanted a part-time job to earn and pay their fees. We felt so privileged that our education has been sponsored by our parents!

On the other side, people of some areas had no trust in their own locality boys. They said they will not do their work seriously. This was quite sad as it just showed how youth is getting wasted in India. Surely, if they are given good jobs they will stop wasting their time and gain the trust of people. But, the question is where do they find the jobs?

LACK OF COUNSELING

A related problem is that no one has ever counseled these youngsters like we are counseled regarding the college to corporate journeys. They don’t know what qualities are needed to get a job and to keep it. So, even when they get a job, they lose it for simple things like not being on time, not dressing appropriately. Or, not knowing how to talk at work or taking leaves without permission. Simple things for us, because we have been trained in these. But, for them, it is not something they think about.

Case Problems

What other strategies should Helper4U adopt to spread awareness about Helper4u in a scalable, cost-effective way?

How can we educate or career counsel the ABCDE: Aya, Bai, Cook, Driver and everyone similar so that they do not have unrealistic expectations in terms of job location, money, and job assurance?

Helper4U From the Perspective of Employers

Helper4u is not an agency, so takes no commission on the hiring of the Helper.

Just like their unique concept, they have unique policies as well. Their replacement credit policy is very simple, no questions asked policy. If an employer finds details of a Helper wrong, or the hired Helper leaves the job within 15 days, they offer a no-questions-asked replacement credit.

Whenever you want to hire a Helper for your home or office, do check out Helper4U.in before going to an agency. You may be able to close your hiring faster and cheaper.

Helper4U also offers online verification services: Get your staff verified through a simple online process, The website offers an address, criminal background & document verification at very nominal prices.

[hiremaid-verifiedhelpers]

Life: A School Of Learning

Life: A School Of Learning

Illiterate does not always mean uneducated. Life can also educate us. And, this is something you can be reminded of from the most unexpected sources at times. I was reminded of this by my domestic helper.  She is illiterate, but not really uneducated. Life educated her enough to give me a commentary on social fabric from a domestic worker who had never been to a school. The context of the conversation was the fact that she announced to me the marriage of her daughter, and asked for a loan.

Me: Why are you marrying off your daughter at such a young age? She is just 16. You should educate her.

She: My husband did not allow her to study after class V, even though she is very bright. So, what else to do? Marriage is the only thing.

Me: But, why? Your sons are still in school. You are ready to educate them. So, why not the daughter too?

She: As per my husband, there is no need to study as she did not have to work. He thinks girls of good families do not go out to work. It will be the husband’s duty to provide for her.

Me: (Silent with many thoughts going on in my mind ... .To educate a girl would mean money. So, marry her off in the name of “Good family”.)

After 30 seconds:

She: But, it is Ok for him if the wife goes out and does menial cleaning jobs. Then he forgets about what happens in good families…After all, he needs money for his liquor as well as to care for so many children that we have. In my case, it is not his duty to provide for me. I have no problem working to earn money. But if I was life educated, things may have been better. My father had the same reason to marry me off, and I know the same fate awaits my daughter now.

I really could not do anything except advise her:

“If she ever wants to work, bring her to me. I will train her to be a babysitter. After Baby Sitter’s training, she will get a better, and more respectful job after that.”

If you know any person searching for a job, you can get her registered here.

[hiremaid-verifiedhelpers]

How To Find a Babysitter Who is Great For Your Child?

Looking for a babysitter near your home, but unable to decide how to find a babysitter who is great for your child? A dilemma that most parents would go through. As a parent, we feel that our child is special and anyone interacting with them should understand their “personality”. In fact, each child is unique in terms of his or her personality traits. If hiring a babysitter, find one who will be able to deal with and encourage the child based on these traits. Hiring a babysitter is not a big deal now with Helper4U.

Maids for baby care may not be hard to find if you are looking for someone to be just around the child. Then cleanliness may be the only thing you look for. And ensuring she is not addicted to her phone, or the TV is the next important thing. But, if you are looking for someone to nurture your child & help your child grow then there are certain things to take care of.

Let us talk about some things which you should keep in mind if you want to find a babysitter who is great for your child.

CHOOSE A NANNY BASED ON YOUR CHILD’S PERSONALITY.

At Helper4U we often get to talk to moms looking to hire a nanny near me. One of the common things we hear is: “My baby is very active so, I want a nanny who is young and can run around with him/her.”

This is such a simple yet important way to select a nanny. If your child is active and always running around or ready for games, not sleeping too much, then that is a sign that you need someone who can keep him/her engaged. You don’t want your child to just be plopped in front of the TV doing nothing except maybe eating. The nanny need not be 18 years old, but sure enough someone not more than 45.

On the other hand, if your child likes to read, play board games or puzzles, then look for someone who has the patience to sit with the child and read to him/her. In this case you are better off with an older nanny.

Similarly, a child may love to talk. For such a child you need someone who will be able to engage them in an interesting way. Choose someone who talks well, gently and at the level of the children. Someone ideal would be one who is not afraid of being silly and play Peek a boo 1000 times in a day!

English speaking babysitters

Hire a English speaking nannies / babysitters. If you feel that your child wants someone who knows how to speak in English, then  you should try to search for a nanny near your home who is educated and knows basic english.

SOME GENERAL QUALITIES NEEDED

All kids love to play. So the babysitter should be willing to play how and when your kids want to play. Whether extrovert or introvert, children need to be engaged at all times either in games, books, stories, board games or something similar. Every child will need some level of interaction by the sitter. Having a sitter who just sits and texts on her phone will usually get a quick thumbs down from your child so avoid them.

You will want your child to follow a routine. Routines are good for children. So, choose a nanny who is gentle yet stern enough to not be bullied by your child. She should be able to get the child to follow a routine.

Ask the candidate if she is interested in any creative activities. It could be something as simple as gardening, stitching, making Rangoli, cooking etc. If she has interest in any of these she can be a part of art and craft activities for the child.

That brings us to a related trait: That of being smart and intelligent. An educated, intelligent sitter will be able to answer the questions of the child, and challenge the child in his games, puzzles, and other activities. She will be able to hold discussions with the child and help him/her with new things constantly.

Hire Verified babysitter

Relax & hire verified and experienced babysitters. Above all you should hire a sitter who is responsible not only for the comfort but also safety of the child.We all know how important role a verification service plays in our lives. It is her responsibility to make the child feel safe and protected, whether in house or outside. She should be able to make a decision in times of emergency and not feel helpless. You can share this video with your sitter to make her understand her responsibilities, and how to make sure of the safety of the child.

Lastly, it is extremely crucial for you to know that the babysitter you hire is trustworthy. After all, you are leaving your most precious family member in her care. So, always do a criminal background check, and if possible, visit the home of your Baby sitter. This will help you verify the address of the person. If you cannot do it yourself, hire someone who specializes in this. Helper4U, for example, can help you with documents, criminal background, as well as address verification through a simple process. You just give us the details of the helper and we take care of the rest. The charges for these services are nominal and in fact very less in return for the security that you get.

In addition to the above general requirements, different skills, and qualifications are needed for a child care professional, depending upon the age of the child/baby. 

[hiremaid-verifiedhelpers]

7 Tips For Successful Interview

फेस-टू-फेस इंटरव्यू नौकरी की भर्ती प्रक्रिया में अंतिम और सबसे जरूरी कदम है। यह आपका पहला इम्प्रैशन है। इसे पार करने के लिए, हमें कुछ इंटरव्यू स्किल्स सीखने होंगे जो हमें न केवल एक सफल इंटरव्यू देने में मदद करेंगे बल्कि बाकी एप्लिकेंट से अलग होंगे और हमें एक बढ़त देंगे। आप अपना सर्वश्रेष्ठ इंटरव्यू  कैसे देंगे?

इंटरव्यू में आपको किन बातों का ध्यान रखना चाहिए?

इंटरव्यू में जाने से पहले, अपने सभी महत्वपूर्ण दस्तावेजों / documents (या उनकी copy) जैसे अपने स्कूल या कॉलेज की मार्कशीट, वोटिंग कार्ड, आधार कार्ड, आदि की एक फ़ाइल बनाएं। यदि आप एक ड्राइवर हैं, तो अपना लाइसेंस ले लें। यदि आपने कोई प्रशिक्षण किया है, तो प्रमाण पत्र ले जाएं। यदि आपके पास कोई पिछला अनुभव है, तो employers का नाम, पता और फोन नंबर भी ले लें।

एक रिज्यूमे/ बायोडाटा बनाएं जिसमें आपकी सभी व्यक्तिगत जानकारी जैसे नाम, पता, फोन नंबर, शिक्षा, अनुभव आदि शामिल हों और इसे अपने पास रखें। 

अपना रिज्यूमे बनाने के लिए यहां क्लिक करें.

कपडे फॉर्मल और जगह के अनुसार पहनिए। बहुत ज्यादा कैजुअल होने से बचें।

"नौकरी पर जाते हुए तैयार होने के टिप्स" इस पर हमारा विस्तृत वीडियो देखें.

समय पर इंटरव्यू तक पहुंचें। उसके लिए, आपको यह पता लगाने की आवश्यकता है कि साक्षात्कार के स्थान तक पहले से कैसे पहुंचें और इसमें कितना समय लगेगा। आप अपने नियोक्ता से दिशा-निर्देश मांग सकते हैं और उन्हें पता भेजने के लिए भी कह सकते हैं। देर से पहुँचना सबसे बड़ी गलतियों में से एक है। यह गैरजिम्मेदारी दिखाता है। समय से 15-30 मिनट पहले पहुंचने की कोशिश करें। देर होने की तुलना में इंतजार करना बेहतर है| 

जैसे ही आप इंटरव्यू लेने वालों से मिलते हैं, उन्हें गुड मॉर्निंग या गुड इवनिंग करें, अपना नाम बताएं और उन्हें अपनी फाइल दें। बैठने से पहले पूछें।

अपने इंटरव्यू लेने वालों से सभी महत्वपूर्ण सवाल पूछें जैसे कि आपकी जिम्मेदारियां, समय, पत्ते, वेतन, आदि क्या होंगे।

सबसे महत्वपूर्ण कौशल ईमानदारी है। अपने सभी उत्तरों के साथ सच्चा बनें। यदि आपको काम पसंद नहीं है, तो आपको इंटरव्यू में ही कहना चाहिए। फर्जी वादे न करें।

"ईमानदारी" पर हमारा विस्तृत वीडियो देखने के लिए यहां क्लिक करें

अपने इंटरव्यू लेने वालों को इंटरव्यू छोड़ते समय, हमेशा "थैंक यू" कहें। यह आपकी ज़िम्मेदारी है कि आप उस व्यक्ति को भी धन्यवाद दें जिसने आपको नौकरी के बारे में बताया है और उसे बताएं कि इंटरव्यू कैसा था|

इंटरव्यू कौशल पर हमारा विस्तृत वीडियो देखें.

यदि आप इन बातों का ध्यान रखते हैं और ईमानदारी के साथ अपना इंटरव्यू देते हैं, तो आप निश्चित रूप से अपनी इच्छित नौकरी प्राप्त करेंगे। शुभकामनाएं!

अगर आपको ड्राइवर, मेड, कुक, केयरगिवर, नैनी की जॉब चाहिए तो H4U Jobs app डाउनलोड करें 

[hiremaid-verifiedhelpers]

7 Interview Tips: How To Prepare For A Job Interview

The face-to-face interview is the final and most essential step in the job recruitment process. To succeed, learn interview tactics that set you apart from typical candidates.

What should you keep in mind during the interview?

1 Before the interview, gather important documents like certificates, identification, and previous employer details. Create a resume with personal information and bring it with you. Create your resume .

2. Dress appropriately and watch a video on "Tips for getting ready while hiring."

3. Plan your route to the interview venue, aiming to arrive 15-30 minutes early.

4. Greet the interviewer appropriately and maintain professional behavior.

5. Ask pertinent questions about the role, responsibilities, and terms.

6. Honesty is key; be truthful in your answers and express your preferences honestly.

7.After the interview, express gratitude to the interviewer and those who referred you. Following these steps with honesty will increase your chances of success.

If you are looking for a Driver, Maid, Cook, Caregiver, Nanny job, download the H4U Jobs app.