Safety first, then baby/family priorities, then house tasks. Ask early if the order is unclear.
House Rules Draft
Use this as a friendly written guide. The point is firm structure, not fear: ask before guessing, tell us early, and follow the safety rules every time.
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.
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 or food allowance, suitable accommodation with reasonable privacy, free medical treatment, and salary paid on time are baseline obligations, not optional house rules.
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.
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 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. The home phone should stay charged and returned to its fixed place.
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.
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.
No shouting, threats, hitting, rough handling, or harsh language. If something goes wrong, report it quickly and honestly so we can fix it together.
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.
Keep doors locked. Do not open the door to delivery, repair, management office, or unknown people unless expected. Call or message if unsure.
For injury, fire, gas smell, water leak, or child safety issue: move to safety first, call 999 if urgent, then call the family contacts. Tell us about any child accident even if it looks mild.
No posting family members, baby, home interior, building, travel plans, school, or private documents online. Ask first before taking or sharing photos.
Ask before using unfamiliar machines. Never mix bleach with other cleaners. Keep medicines, knives, hot water, and cleaning products away from children.
Keep windows fastened unless we say otherwise. Before leaving a room or sleeping: stove off, taps off, hot water safe, floors dry, doors and gate locked.
Do not leave the child alone at home, near open windows, stove, water, medicines, chemicals, sharp items, sockets, lift doors, or road traffic. If you need help, call us.
Hygiene Zones
The reference doc was strongest here. Different tools for different jobs prevents cross-contamination and makes training easier.
Bathroom cloths, sponges, brushes, gloves, and disposable papers stay for bathroom use only. Do not use them on kitchen, dining, baby, pet, or bedroom items.
Keep separate cloths or sponges for raw food equipment, cooked-food dishes, kitchen counters, hand drying, and pet bowls. Replace or ask when unclear.
Wash helper personal clothes separately from family laundry. Follow Charlie's instructions for baby clothes, bedding, towels, delicates, and hand-wash items.
After groceries, deliveries, or coming home from outside, clean hands first and wipe bags or packaging if needed. Keep foyer and kitchen counters dry and tidy.
Outside & Errands
Use the same simple flow every time so groceries, money, baby safety, and return timing are clear.
Before going out
- Confirm where to go, what to buy, expected return time, and whether the child is staying home.
- Bring the home phone if working, keep it charged, and make sure Charlie or Marco can reach you.
- Use the agreed payment method. Ask before buying substitutions, expensive items, or unclear brands.
After returning
- Message that you are back, put keys/cards/phone/cashbook back in the fixed place, and keep receipts together.
- Log Octopus, petty cash, or reimbursement amounts clearly. If no receipt is available, write what was bought.
- Clean hands, bags, and any wet or dirty packaging before storing food or touching baby items.
Communication Rhythm
A simple operating rhythm keeps everyone sane, especially during the first month.
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.
- Write down important instructions after we teach them.
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.
- Hiding a mistake because you are worried. Fast honesty is safer for everyone.
Acknowledgement Checklist
This replaces scary signature-page energy with a calm review list. Go through it together and repeat any item that is unclear.
- I understand I should ask Charlie or Marco before guessing on child care, medicine, visitors, appliances, groceries, or money.
- I understand child safety issues, accidents, broken items, late returns, and mistakes should be reported immediately.
- I understand the hygiene zones and will not mix bathroom, kitchen, baby, pet, outside, and personal cleaning tools.
- I understand rest day, statutory holiday, salary, medical, food/accommodation, and document rules follow Hong Kong law and the contract.
- I know where to find emergency contacts, first-aid items, keys/access cards, home phone, grocery log, and shared shopping list.
First Week Checklist
This can become the onboarding page inside the dashboard.
- 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.
- Label or demonstrate hygiene zones: bathroom tools, kitchen tools, baby items, pet bowls, outside/foyer cleaning, and helper personal laundry.
- 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.