Over 2.7 million households now regularly employ help in the home, some for up to 12 hours a week, says the 21st Century Housekeeping report published by Norwich Union.
BRITONS spend over Ł9 billion* a year on domestic help, a new study shows today.
Over 2.7 million households now regularly employ help in the home, some for up to 12 hours a week, says the 21st Century Housekeeping report published by Norwich Union.
The study shows that each household employing domestic help spends an average of Ł3,493 a year on it - that’s Ł73 each week.
The rate of pay for people employing a cleaner is around Ł4.85 per hour and a gardener earns Ł6.46. Yet nannies and child carers are earning much less - they’re paid only Ł3.64 for each hour worked.
But the research by the home insurer shows that busy Britons and their army of cleaners, gardeners and babysitters could be putting themselves at risk in the home.
Two in three families who pay for domestic help don’t bother to do any research such as checking references before they take an employee on.
And three in five employees say they have a set of keys to their boss’ home.
The 21st Century Housekeeping report also reveals:
- Nine in ten employees are paid cash in hand for their work
- Two-thirds of all ‘domestic bosses’ have never discussed a pay review with their employee, even though a third have employed the same person for over three years
- Nine in ten employers say they haven’t considered the insurance ramifications of hiring extra help in their home
- Two in five employees say their employer did not set out the terms and conditions before they started the job
- Almost half of homeowners say they never see their employee.
Now Norwich Union has produced a free guide to help both those employing domestic help and employees to get the most out of the relationship and protect themselves.
The guide, called Domestic Bliss, gives homeowners and employees helpful tips about the things to look for when recruiting or looking for work, how to form a good working relationship and information about the insurance and security issues.
It also has a Service Promise that can be filled in and signed by both the homeowner and the employee. This helps set out the exact nature of the work to be completed, pay conditions, review periods and contact details.
James Duffell, survey director for Norwich Union, said: “Many homeowners have a haphazard attitude to employing in the home, even though as a nation we’re spending billions of pound a year on cleaners, gardeners and nannies.
"Our guide not only offers practical advice about selecting the right people, but will help employers plan the job and work better with their employee so it’s a positive and safer working relationship."
Stuart Neill of Adecco, the world’s largest recruitment company, added: "It’s amazing that people appear to give so little time and attention to recruiting in their home, yet view recruitment for business as a priority decision.
"Basic recruitment and employment practice should never be ignored, particularly when domestic staff are entrusted with your home or even your children."
A personal copy of Norwich Union’s guide to help both those employing domestic help and employees has been sent to intermediaries, together with a form to order further copies for customers.
Customers can also ring Freefone 0800 093 03 03 for a free copy of the guide.
ends
Notes to Editors:
* Independent research commissioned by Norwich Union showed that 2.75 million British households employ domestic help for, on average, 13.14 hours a week at Ł5.54 an hour (on average). Based on a 48 week working year, that means as a nation we’re spending Ł9 billion on domestic help.
Norwich Union commissioned Brand & Issues to conduct an independent survey of nearly 500 employers and employees up and down the country. The survey was carried out in May 2000. Focus groups of employers and employees were also set up and face-to-face interviews carried out.
Norwich Union also commissioned Taylor Nelson Sofres to conduct research with 1,000 households across Britain. The survey was carried out on 21 and 22 July 2000.
CGU and Norwich Union merged on 30 May 2000 to create CGNU plc - the world’s 6th largest insurer, the UK's largest insurance group and one of the top-five life insurers in Europe with substantial positions in other markets around the world.
CGNU's principal business activities are long-term savings, general insurance and asset management with worldwide premium income and retail investment sales of Ł26 billion and assets under management of more than Ł200 billion.
From October, the combined life and pensions, general insurance and retail fund businesses in the UK will operate under the Norwich Union brand, while the institutional business will operate under the Morley Fund Management brand.
For further information contact: Matthew Buchanan or Anja Kueppers at QBO on 020 7379 0304 or Liz Nicholson at Norwich Union on 01603 688263
NORWICH UNION 21ST CENTURY HOUSEKEEPING STUDY
SUMMARY OF EARNINGS AND HOURS WORKED
On average, what are British households paying their domestic help?
| Employee | Average hourly rate |
| Gardener | Ł6.46 |
| Handyman | Ł6.46 |
| Cleaner | Ł4.85 |
| Ironer | Ł4.85 |
| Nanny/Childcarers | Ł3.64 |
On average, how many hours are these people working for each employer and how many hours a week do they work in total?
| Employee | Average hours worked for each employer | Average hours worked each week |
| Gardener | 2 hours | 20 hours |
| Ironer | 2.5 hours | 7 hours |
| Cleaner | 4 hours | 8.5 hours |
| Nanny/Child carers | 24 hours | 30 hours |