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The wait is over! Your domestic helper is all set to begin, and you're brimming with excitement. Finally, you will have someone to help with the chores and mind the kids. Your family can look forward to healthy, home-cooked meals. You printed out a schedule for her to refer to and even took a few days off to show her how things are done in your house. You hope your new helper will be motivated to give her best for the next 2 years if you started things on the right note. Setting the Stage for Success This all sounds great. But, for a good working relationship, you must treat it like a corporate HR task. You need to assert your role as the boss and respect your helper as your subordinate. Set boundaries from the start and be clear in communicating the rules of the workplace. Besides the timetable, you should also print out a list of house rules. This should cover the daily hours. It should also cover notes on securing and locking the house, mobile phone use, work clothes, personal

Step Up is proud to unveil Genie, the world's first AI chatbot designed specifically for domestic helpers. Powered by cutting-edge AI technology, Genie integrates seamlessly into the Step Up platform, offering unparalleled support to its users at no additional cost. Available in English, Tagalog, and Bahasa Indonesia, Genie serves as a comprehensive resource for domestic helpers, addressing both their professional responsibilities and personal needs. Users have the flexibility to engage with Genie through text or audio mode, with the latter facilitating rapid language acquisition, particularly beneficial for improving English proficiency. Additionally, the innovative "Upload Image" feature enables helpers to snap photos of objects, such as fresh produce at the supermarket, to seek recipe suggestions and assistance. Beyond practical assistance, Genie extends emotional and mental support to domestic helpers, offering a safe space to address concerns that may be difficult to

Have you ever wondered if AI chatbots could assist domestic helpers in their daily tasks and skill development? Well, let's dive into the potential benefits and challenges of incorporating artificial intelligence, particularly AI-powered chatbots like ChatGPT and Google's Bard, into the domestic help industry. Dispelling Misinformation Currently, if you were to ask ChatGPT if helpers are entitled to public holidays for example, you will get a "Yes" in response. That's not accurate and depends on the terms  and conditions specified in the employment contract. While AI chatbots have their quirks, it's essential to look beyond a single misleading answer. Like any information source, they can have inaccuracies. So, how does this connect to our domestic helpers? Keep reading. Enhancing Efficiency and Skill Sets The use of AI is gaining traction in various industries, and the domestic help sector is no exception. AI can simplify tasks for domestic helpers, from sche

Are you frustrated by your new helper's mistakes? Do you feel like you're constantly having to show her how to do things? Is your new maid more helpless than helpful? Don't worry, it's perfectly normal for new helpers to make mistakes. They are still learning the ropes and may not be familiar with your household's specific needs and expectations. Here are some common mistakes that new hires make: Mishandling of electrical items, causing failure Not knowing how to handle children Not knowing what to do if not given a schedule or clear instructions Not cleaning or tidying up properly Breaking or damaging household items Your helper's lack of knowledge could lead to costly repair! If you are concerned about your new maid's mistakes, the best thing to do is to be patient and understanding. Provide them with  clear and concise instructions,  and be sure to give them positive feedback when they do something well. You can also use Step Up to help your maid improve

Mr Tay Khoon Beng, Director of Best Home Employment Agency Photo: Best Home Best Home is a leading employment agency in Singapore with 26 years of experience in maid-employer matching, training, documentation and mediation. Their maid training program is conducted in-house with trainers providing training to domestic workers at local centres in their home countries. Although this method was effective in producing well-trained helpers, it was also time-consuming and sometimes inconsistent due to varying trainers' methods. In 2022, as the domestic help industry raced to resume operations post-pandemic, Mr Tay Khoon Beng, Director of Best Home started to look at solutions to improve maid training. “I wanted a standard online curriculum that could be used to train MDWs of all nationalities. E-learning was the way to go since all MDWs have mobile phones and can easily access the training materials even back at their home countries.” A comprehensive training curriculum The solution he fo

Step Up transforms domestic worker training for employment agencies with an innovative online video training tool: Step Up for Agencies. Step Up for Agencies is the ultimate white label solution for employment agencies looking for a full or hybrid online training program for their domestic workers. Our platform offers a simple and easy-to-use admin panel and dashboard for agencies to create worker accounts, manage training, view progress, and monitor results. With Step Up for Agencies, agencies can have their own branded learning websites, powered by our extensive library of over 150 training videos. The videos are available in multiple languages including Bahasa Indonesia and Tagalog, and cover a wide range of topics, including cleaning, cooking, child care, financial literacy and many more, so that domestic workers can acquire the skills they need to excel in their roles. Results Guaranteed! Our platform is designed to save employment agencies time and money while providing their wor