PRIVATE HOUSEHOLD WORKERS California Occupational Guide Number 395 Interest Area 5-D 1995
THE JOB
PRIVATE HOUSEHOLD WORKERS perform a variety of duties, such as house cleaning, yard work, chauffeuring, caring for children, and cooking. This guide is based on those working full time or close to full time. Private Household Workers may perform duties in a single aspect of household work, such as cooking or cleaning, or they may perform a wide variety of duties related to the entire household and its occupants including cooking, cleaning, gardening, chauffeuring, and caring for children and pets. The following job descriptions cover the most common types of Private Household Workers.
Cooks plan menus and prepare meals in private homes, according to recipes or tastes of their employer. They peel, wash, trim, and prepare vegetables and meats for eating, and bake breads and pastries. Cooks also clean the kitchen and cooking utensils, and sometimes serve meals. In addition, Cooks may prepare fancy dishes and pastries or food for special diets. They may specialize in preparing and serving dinner for employed, retired, or other persons and be designated a Family-Dinner Service Specialist.
Yard Workers perform a variety of duties in accordance with the instructions of their employer, to keep grounds of a private residence in neat and orderly condition. They plant, apply fertilizers, spray pesticides, prune, cultivate, and water flowers, shrubbery, and trees. They seed and mow lawns, rake leaves, and keep grounds free of other debris. Yard Workers paint fences and wash and polish automobiles. Yard Workers also clean patio furniture, straighten-up garages, and clean walkways. Yard Workers may cultivate flowers, shrubbery, and other plants in greenhouses, wax floors, tend furnaces, or groom and exercise pets.
General House Workers perform a variety of duties in keeping private homes clean and orderly, cooking and serving meals, and rendering personal services to family members. They plan meals, purchase foodstuffs and household supplies, and prepare and cook meals according to their employer's instructions or following their own recipes. General House Workers serve meals and refreshments, wash dishes, and clean silverware. They oversee activities of children, and assist them in dressing and bathing. They also clean furnishings, floors, and windows, and perform additional duties, such as answering the telephone and the doorbell.
Child Monitors attend and monitor the activities of children in private homes. They amuse children by reading to or playing games with them. They prepare and serve meals or formulas, sterilize bottles and other equipment used for feeding infants, and dress or assist children to dress and bathe. Child Monitors accompany children on walks or other outings, and keep children's quarters clean and orderly.
Companions provide companionship for individuals who are often elderly, handicapped, or convalescing. They attend to an employer's personal needs and transact social or business affairs. Companions also read aloud and play cards or other games to entertain their employers. In addition, they accompany the employer on trips and outings, and may prepare and serve meals.
Chauffeurs operate private cars as directed by the owner or passengers and perform various other tasks. They assist passengers in entering and leaving the car. Chauffeurs keep cars clean, polished, and in operating condition. They may make minor repairs and adjustments, such as fixing tire punctures and cleaning spark plugs. They may also groom and exercise their employers' pets.
WORKING CONDITIONS
Private Household Workers usually work in pleasant and comfortable homes or apartments. Many live in the home of their employer, generally with their own room and bath. Live-ins may work longer hours. If they work evenings or weekends, they may get other time off. Living-in may separate them from family and friends. Household workers are usually on their feet most of the day and do much walking, lifting, bending, stooping, and reaching. In addition, some employers may be hard to please.
EMPLOYMENT OUTLOOK
The demand for private household workers is sensitive to changing economic conditions. In many parts of the state, the economic recession in the early 1990's greatly affected the outlook for household worker, as such help is considered by many to be a luxury that can be supplanted by unpaid family workers or more informal arrangements.
Counterbalancing this trend is the growing number of families with dual incomes, who can afford to hire domestic help, and who are the most likely to need assistance, especially with child monitoring and house cleaning.
Even in times of economic recessions, many jobs will be available each year because of the need to replace the high proportion who leave this occupation.
WAGES, HOURS, AND FRINGE BENEFITS
Earnings for Private Household Workers depend on the type of work, the number of hours, geographic location, and experience. On the average, Private Household Workers earn between $5.35 and $13.85 per hour.
Workers in some occupations earn less, and some earn more. For example, the salary for Chauffeurs ranged from $8.00 to $13.85 per hour, whereas General House Workers earned from $5.75 to $9.50 per hour. Minimum pay was reported for General House Worker, and the highest for Chauffeurs. Fringe benefits, such as medical and dental, and pension plans, are usually not available for this type of occupation, though vacation pay for live-in workers is sometimes offered.
Live-in workers usually receive a lower wage rate than a worker who commutes to the job, but room and board is generally offered in addition to monetary compensation.
ENTRANCE REQUIREMENTS AND TRAINING
Private Household Workers require the ability to clean well, cook, drive, or take care of children. Employers sometimes train the Private Household Worker to do the work they want performed. For child monitors and companions a good general educational background and the ability to get along with the person they will care for are important qualifications.
People interested in this type of occupation should take home economics courses in high school, or cooking and child development courses in vocational and adult education schools. Courses in first aid and nursing in post-secondary schools are also useful. Private Household Workers must be discreet, dependable, courteous, neat, and honest. They also need stamina. Where driving is involved, they must possess a valid motor vehicle license.
ADVANCEMENT
Advancement opportunities for this occupation are limited. Advancement usually consists of better pay and working conditions. Workers may move to similar jobs in hotels, hospitals, and restaurants.
FINDING THE JOB
Jobs may be found through direct contact with employers, newspaper ads, and registration with the California Employment Development Department and private agencies.
Asking friends or relatives about Private Household Worker openings is another valuable method of finding employment.
Since employers may ask for local references, a Private Household Worker should be able to supply the names and addresses of former employers.
RELATED OCCUPATIONAL GUIDES
Janitors and Cleaners No. 88 Cooks & Chefs No. 93 Home Health Aides No. 461 Child Care Workers (Aides) No. 505
OCCUPATIONAL CODE REFERENCES
DOT (Dictionary of Occupational Titles, 4th ed., Rev. 1) House Worker, General (dom. ser.) 301.474-010 Child Monitor (dom. ser.) 301.677-010 Yard Worker (dom. ser.) 301.687-018 Cook (dom. ser.) 305.281-010 Companion (dom. ser.) 309.677-010 Chauffeur (dom. ser.) 359.673-010
OES (Occupational Employment Statistics) System Yard Workers 799990 Taxi Drivers, Chauffeurs 971140
Source: State of California, Employment Development Department,
Labor Market Information Division, Information Services
Group, (916) 262-2162.
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