This is the helper-facing guide: house rules, safety reminders, daily rhythm, weekly/monthly tasks, and starter recipes. It should feel like a reference, not a warning letter.
Start here every day
Safety first, then baby/family priorities, then house tasks. Ask early if the order is unclear.
When unsure
Message Charlie or Marco before guessing on baby care, medicine, expensive food, appliances, or visitors.
Use this dashboard for
Rules, routines, recipes, safety reminders, and household preferences that are okay to share.
Not in this dashboard
Salary tracking, private family notes, feedback logs, and admin documents stay in Family Tracker.
House Rules Draft
Use this as a friendly written guide. The point is not “strict strict”, it is to remove guessing and make the first month smoother.
Version 0.1
Work location and duties
Work is for this household at the address in the contract. No work at other homes, shops, offices, relatives’ flats, or for neighbours unless the law and contract allow it.
Rest day and holidays
One full rest day every 7 days, plus statutory holidays and annual leave. We do not ask for chores during rest days; any urgent exception must be discussed and handled properly.
Food, room, medical, salary
Food or food allowance, suitable accommodation with reasonable privacy, free medical treatment, and salary paid on time are baseline obligations, not optional house rules.
Personal documents
Passport, HKID, bank card, contract copy, and personal papers stay with the helper. We can keep copies for admin, but originals are hers.
Home Boundaries
These are the daily “how we live together” rules that HK families commonly spell out early.
Practical
Privacy both ways
Knock before entering bedrooms. We will also treat the helper’s room or sleeping area as private. Shared bathrooms should be kept dry, clean, and available on time.
Phone and video calls
Phone is fine during breaks, after main tasks, and rest days. During cooking, baby care, cleaning with chemicals, or going out with family, keep attention on the task.
Visitors and address
No visitors at home unless we agree in advance. Do not share our home address, door code, family schedule, photos, or private information with friends or online.
Food and kitchen
Label anything that is personal food. Ask before using special ingredients. Keep raw and cooked food separate, wipe counters after meals, and tell us when pantry items are low.
Respectful behaviour
No shouting, threats, hitting, rough handling, or harsh language. If something goes wrong, report it quickly and honestly so we can fix it together.
Money and borrowing
Keep salary and personal money separate from household cash. Do not borrow from finance companies using our address or act as guarantor. Tell us if an agency or lender pressures you.
Safety & Security
These are worth making very explicit in the dashboard because they prevent the scary mistakes.
Must know
Door, keys, and strangers
Keep doors locked. Do not open the door to delivery, repair, management office, or unknown people unless expected. Call or message if unsure.
Emergency steps
For injury, fire, gas smell, water leak, or child safety issue: move to safety first, call emergency services if urgent, then call the family contacts.
Photos and social media
No posting family members, baby, home interior, building, travel plans, school, or private documents online. Ask first before taking or sharing photos.
Appliances and chemicals
Ask before using unfamiliar machines. Never mix bleach with other cleaners. Keep medicines, knives, hot water, and cleaning products away from children.
Communication Rhythm
A simple operating rhythm keeps everyone sane, especially during the first month.
Weekly
Good to do
Ask when instructions are unclear.
Report accidents, broken items, late arrivals, or missing grocery items early.
Use a shared shopping list instead of trying to remember everything.
Have a short check-in once a week during onboarding.
Avoid
Guessing with baby care, medicine, food allergies, or appliances.
Changing cleaning products or cooking methods without telling us.
Leaving valuables, keys, stove, windows, or taps unchecked.
Letting small misunderstandings build up for weeks.
First Week Checklist
This can become the onboarding page inside the dashboard.
Onboarding
Introduce each family member, names to use, main caregiving priorities, and any sensitive routines.
Show the home: bedrooms, storage, first-aid kit, emergency contacts, building exits, refuse room, mailbox, and management office.
Settle her room or sleeping area: bedding, towel, storage space, Wi-Fi, charging spot, and how shared spaces work.
Confirm salary date, food arrangement, rest day, holiday handling, insurance, medical process, and bank/account preference.
Walk through appliances: washer, dryer/dehumidifier, stove, oven, sterilizer, vacuum, mop system, air purifier, and AC.
Tour the neighbourhood: supermarket, wet market, pharmacy, clinic, MTR/bus stop, park, and usual family routes.
Agree how to ask questions: WhatsApp for urgent items, shared list for groceries, weekly chat for feedback.
Routine Checklists
Use these as simple reminders for what to check daily, weekly, monthly, and quarterly. If baby care or family instructions conflict with this list, ask first.
Reminder tabs
Daily rhythm
Keep the home safe, dry, and ready for the family. Baby/family needs come before non-urgent cleaning.
Morning: open curtains, check laundry, clear sink, wipe kitchen counters, and prepare simple breakfast items if needed.
Kitchen: wash dishes, separate raw and cooked food, wipe stove/counter, and keep floor dry after cooking.
Laundry: check baskets, wash/dry/fold as instructed, and keep baby clothes separate if Charlie asks.
Floors and bathrooms: quick sweep or mop high-use areas, wipe bathroom sink/toilet area, and replace tissue if low.
Groceries: update the shopping list when food, cleaning supplies, diapers, wipes, or household items are running low.
Evening: kitchen clean, rubbish if full, doors locked, windows safe, stove off, taps off, and appliances checked before bedtime.
Weekly reset
These tasks do not need to happen every day. Choose the best day with Charlie or Marco, especially around rest day.
Change bedsheets and pillowcases as instructed; wash towels and bath mats.
Clean bathroom more deeply: shower area, mirrors, drain area, toilet, shelves, and floor corners.
Wipe fridge shelves and door handles; throw away spoiled food only after checking if unsure.
Vacuum or mop under easy-to-move furniture, shoe cabinet area, balcony/window ledges if safe.
Sanitise baby toys/items only using the method taught by Charlie or Marco.
Do a pantry and household stock check, then send unclear or low-stock items to the family.
Monthly check
These are planned reminders, not urgent daily tasks. Ask before moving stored items, throwing things away, or changing appliance settings.
Check pantry expiry dates, medicine expiry dates, and cleaning supply levels.
Clean AC or air purifier filters only after being shown the correct method.
Deep clean kitchen and bathroom corners, appliance handles, bins, and storage shelves.
Tidy wardrobe or storage areas assigned by Charlie or Marco; do not reorganise private drawers without asking.
Check fridge, freezer, sauces, condiments, and opened packages; ask before throwing away unclear items.
Review household stock list and note anything that should be bought in bulk next month.
Quarterly review
These happen a few times a year. Do them with Charlie or Marco so the household setup stays current.
Review emergency contacts, first-aid supplies, appliance instructions, and any routine that has changed.
Deep check freezer, fridge, old supplies, seasonal clothes, and baby items that are too small or no longer used.
Check stored suitcases, bedding, guest items, and rarely used storage areas with Charlie or Marco first.
Review appliance cleaning routines for washer, dryer/dehumidifier, vacuum, sterilizer, and air purifier.
Confirm whether recipes, grocery brands, baby routines, or family preferences need to be updated in this guide.
Check whether any household labels, storage boxes, or checklists are confusing and should be simplified.
Recipe Reference
Starter recipe cards for the kind of food Charlie may want her to learn. We can replace these with exact family versions later.
Recipe book
Simple breakfast
Toast or congee base, eggs cooked as requested, fruit washed/cut, coffee/tea setup. Keep the kitchen dry and reset after.
Everyday Chinese dinner
Rice, steamed fish/chicken, one vegetable, simple soup. Light seasoning first; ask before adding spicy, strong, or very salty flavours.
Baby-safe prep
Use separate board/knife, wash hands, no honey, no added salt/sugar unless told, label storage date, follow allergy notes exactly.
Charlie likes
Clean taste, not too oily.
Fresh vegetables kept bright, not overcooked.
Soup and rice ready before dinner time.
Ingredients checked before cooking, no last-minute surprise.
Ask first
New sauces, chilli, curry, fermented or strong-smell ingredients.
Food for baby, medicine, supplements, or allergy-sensitive items.
Using expensive seafood, special gifts, or labelled food.
Changing a family recipe after it has been taught.
Research Notes
Official sources set the legal baseline. Agency/employer guides help shape practical onboarding language.
Sources
Official baseline
Rest days, statutory holidays, annual leave, food/accommodation, medical treatment, and wage timing.
Work must be for the contracted employer and residence; outside employment is not allowed.
Personal documents should not be surrendered to employer or agency.
Practical onboarding
Put rules in writing and go through them on day one.