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Nov. 28, 2006 Oh... the trials and tribulations of urban domesticity. Finding a housekeeper can be a laborious task. So when our trusted housekeeper, Rosa, needed to take some time off, I dreaded even the thought of having to go through the process of hiring someone new. Finding the right person to fit in with you and your family is difficult. With three small children and the turbulence that goes along with it, I wanted and needed for my search to go quickly. I thought that the best way to find Rosa’s replacement would be through an employment agency. My criteria was simple but specific - kind, trustworthy, hardworking and a non-smoker. The applicants the agency sent me were all seemingly kind and qualified women. After conducting numerous interviews, and checking references, I chose Sue. She was friendly and enthusiastic with a strong work ethic. Sue arrived on time for her first day of work. Her cleaning and level of organization was superb -- our home was spotless. That evening Sue called me and said that she wouldn’t be returning. The job was more than she had expected and that she wanted a job were she would be required to perform less physical work. Disappointed, I called the agency and explained the situation. They promised to send me new applicants. Again they sent nice women, most with qualified resumes. This time I was impressed with Mary. She arrived well prepared to the interview complete with a package that included her drivers’ license, social security number, resident alien card, and American Red Cross card. In addition, she had numerous letters of recommendation and was chatty and energetic. As I glanced through her package, I recognized the name of one of her former employers. I was thrilled to know someone that she had previously worked for. This way, I thought, I would get an honest opinion of the quality of her work. I telephoned her former employer (lets call her Molly), and although she thought that Mary was a nice woman, Molly had experienced some difficulties with her and, therefore, felt uncomfortable recommending her. I respected Molly’s opinion and didn’t hire Mary. That same evening I called Patty, the next candidate on my list. She too had a connection with someone I knew - personal not professional. At this point, I decided that a personal connection would have to suffice. Patty arrived late for her first day of work. She talked on the telephone and took long rest periods, sometimes lying down. Her work was mediocre at best. After speaking with her about her tardiness and her quality of work, there was no improvement. She continued to arrive late and sometimes had to leave early. I gave her what I thought was a fair trial period (two weeks) and let her go. This didn’t go over very well. She told me that she “wanted to work for a nice family, one that was more understanding.” Several days later I received a certified letter from her. I wouldn’t necessarily call it threatening, but it was a bit unsettling. That was it. I had had it. Frustrated with my bad luck I thought it was best to give my search for a housekeeper a rest. A few days later I ran into Molly. She asked me for Mary’s telephone number. I thought her request was a bit strange, but I didn’t give it too much thought. A week or so later, and still without a housekeeper, my daughter was invited to Molly’s home for a playdate with her daughter. After accepting her invitation, she informed me that Mary would be there. She had rehired her. “You know how difficult it is to find good help?” she said. Oh, yes I do! I was dumbfounded. I couldn’t believe that I had had a housekeeper poached right out from under me. This is the kind of behavior, I thought, I left behind on the Upper Eastside of Manhattan, not what I had expected in my cozy and apparently not so sweet suburban town. Was Molly deviant or conniving? Probably not. Was she lacking decorum? Maybe. She needed a housekeeper and knew that Mary was available to work (and wouldn’t have to pay an agency fee). Can I blame her for hiring Mary? I guess not. Would I have done the same thing? Most definitely not. So here I sit in my dusty home counting the days to our trusted Rosa’s return. ------------ About the author: Tracey Knight lives between Connecticut and New York City with her husband and three children. She is the author of Subway Etiquette: The Straphanger's Guide to Underground Conduct. Email: TKnight237@aol.com Comment on this article here! ------------ All articles are EXCLUSIVE to Useless-Knowledge.com. Please link to this article rather than copying and pasting it onto your site (which would be unauthorized and illegal). |
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