Reviewing the performance of your household staff can give you insight into their strengths and weaknesses, enabling you to address areas that need improvement and offer validation for areas where they perform well. Routine performance reviews that reward good performance with bonuses or pay raises can help with staff retention, keeping your staff motivated, and maintaining an efficient household. When conducting performance reviews, there are certain steps employers can follow to ensure their effectiveness and create a positive work environment. In this article, we will elaborate on the importance of performance reviews for household staff and how to conduct them for the best results. 

The Benefits of Regular Performance Reviews for Household Staff

Regular performance reviews can have a number of positive effects on household staff, such as:

Improved Communication

During the day-to-day running of your household, your staff may not have the opportunity to bring up their concerns with you, or they may lack the confidence to speak with you directly. In the context of routine performance reviews, your staff will get a chance to speak up and share their concerns in addition to receiving feedback on their performance. Regular performance reviews establish open lines of communication and can create a work environment where staff feel safe to share their concerns, thoughts, and opinions. 

Increased Motivation

By identifying and praising your employees’ strengths, a performance review can ensure staff feel like their contribution matters and is recognised. This, paired with salary increases or bonuses for good performance, can give your staff the motivation they need to maintain their strengths and strive for improvement in weaker areas. Knowing that you want to hear their concerns and opinions can also help staff feel more secure in their positions and more willing to satisfy your performance criteria. 

Heightened Self-Awareness

Performance reviews enable household staff to learn more about what they do well and what they need to work on. This can help them to set targeted professional goals, which can aid in career development and have a carryover effect on their personal lives. 

How to Carry Out an Effective Performance Review of Household Staff

Performance reviews should be tailored to individual positions, the work environment, and your needs as an employer. Here are some strategies you can implement to carry out effective performance reviews of your staff:

  • Set Clear Expectations: Setting clear expectations for the future should be part of every performance review. The expectations you set should be specific, realistic, and measurable, meaning that your house manager or butler should be able to measure employees’ performance against set expectations to provide an accurate report on improvements and setbacks. 
  • Gather Feedback from Multiple Sources: A good performance review will include feedback from a variety of sources, such as senior employees, fellow employees, and your own feedback. Collecting feedback from multiple sources can help create a comprehensive performance review that encompasses a number of opinions and suggestions.
  • Use a Standardised Form: Using a standardised form can greatly facilitate performance reviews and ensure the same general topics are being addressed with each employee. Providing your staff with a physical copy of their performance review can make it easier for them to refer back to your feedback. Moreover, documenting performance can also create a paper trail to justify staff dismissals if necessary. 
  • Provide Specific Examples: Your feedback should include specific examples of positive and negative performance. You should start with positive feedback first, highlighting the ways in which an employee is performing well. This can be followed by constructive criticism, if necessary, backed by specific examples of unsatisfactory performance.
  • Focus on Development: Performance reviews should focus on the professional development of each employee, identifying what they need to do to succeed in your household. By providing employees with opportunities for improvement, such as specialised training, you can ensure they feel supported in their career path and have access to the tools they need to excel. 
  • Use Positive Reinforcement: Performance reviews do not have to be intimidating for your employees. When done right, they should make staff feel valued while presenting an opportunity for growth and development. If there is something you appreciate about the way an employee does their job, they should hear about it. Receiving positive feedback can motivate them to perform better and make them feel more secure in their role.
  • Offer Financial Incentives: While positive feedback can be effective in boosting staff morale, financial incentives for good performance are even more so. Offering salary increases or bonuses for good service is the most practical way of showing your gratitude and encouraging your employees to stay on. 
  • Implement a Schedule: Performance reviews can be carried out quarterly, semiannually, or annually. Having set dates in mind can enable you to stay organised and prepare feedback in advance. In addition, regularly scheduled performance reviews can provide your staff with structure. Rather than being taken by surprise by an impromptu performance review, staff will have the opportunity to mentally prepare themselves. 
  • Ask for Employee Feedback: Performance reviews should not be one-sided. Your employees’ feedback plays as vital a part as yours. When setting goals, outlining expectations, and implementing schedules, make sure to ask each employee’s opinion. They should participate actively in identifying their own strengths and weaknesses and setting goals for improvement. 
  • Use Constructive Criticism: Negative feedback should be delivered sincerely and with sensitivity. Try to identify major areas in need of improvement rather than listing every single fault that comes to mind. Nobody likes receiving negative feedback, so it should be given in small doses. Be sure to include specific examples and actionable takeaways while maintaining an even tone and open body language. 

Criteria to Consider for a Performance Review of Household Staff

There are a number of things to take into account when conducting a performance review of your household staff, including:

Quality of Work 

The overall quality of each employee’s work should be evaluated before their performance review. Do employees go the extra mile to provide outstanding service? Do they take pride in their work? These are things you and your senior staff should be assessing in order to provide constructive feedback.

Punctuality

The timeliness of each employee’s arrival to work is a major factor in determining their performance. A responsible employee should arrive on time and respect predetermined work hours. Staff should not be taking more than the allotted time for breaks and should give their best effort during working hours. 

Attention to Detail 

Your household staff’s attention to detail should be reflected in your home’s tidiness and organisation. The amount of attention each member of your staff pays to their role and responsibilities should play a part in determining their performance review.

Guest Satisfaction

The duties of household staff often extend to receiving guests and ensuring their satisfaction. Guests should be made to feel comfortable and safe during their stay with you. Your staff should ensure guest satisfaction by maintaining a clean and tidy house, providing food and refreshments, and responding to enquiries and requests with a friendly, professional attitude. 

Collaborative Skills

Household staff work as a team to keep your home running smoothly. Your employees should have a collaborative mindset and be respectful toward their coworkers. The necessity of effective teamwork should be a point of discussion during performance reviews.

Communication Skills

Performance reviews should take into account each staff member’s ability to communicate effectively with their coworkers, managers, and subordinates, as well as with your family and guests. Depending on their role, employees may require verbal and written communication skills. 

Adaptability

Your staff’s ability to adapt to changes and challenges is a crucial factor in determining job performance. A large household can be unpredictable, and staff should be flexible enough to manage unexpected changes with a positive attitude. 

Problem-Solving Skills

While teamwork and communication are essential in overcoming obstacles, individual problem-solving skills are also vital in maintaining smooth daily operations. Staff should be able to take initiative and address issues pertaining to their area of responsibility. 

Efficiency

Your staff should be able to provide high-quality service within a reasonable timeframe. Tasks should be completed within the time given to ensure operational efficiency. 

Respect for Rules and Procedures

Every household has established rules and procedures, especially with regard to cleanliness, food preparation, and personal spaces. Your staff’s ability to follow rules and procedures shows whether or not they take their role seriously. 

Find Reliable Household Staff with Charles MacPherson Associates

At Charles MacPherson Associates, we specialise in recruiting and placing household staff for clients with diverse requirements. We provide candidate screening and interviews for high-net-worth clients looking for reliable staff. Feel free to discuss your staffing needs with our placement team via phone or email.

You might also want to check out: Tips For Creating a Seamless Household With Private Staff