Domestic worker onboarding checklist
A practical onboarding plan for a new domestic worker — contract, housing, orientation, payroll and communication — with a tickable checklist for the first weeks.
The short answer
Onboarding a domestic worker means five workstreams done in the first weeks: a signed contract with clear terms, ready accommodation with agreed standards, a structured orientation of the home and routines, payroll set up with an agreed salary date and method, and a reliable communication channel — typically WhatsApp. Each area should be written down so both sides share the same expectations from day one.
Onboarding in five workstreams
Contract
Signed terms covering duties, hours, salary, accommodation, leave and notice.
Housing
Private room ready — bed, storage, ventilation, bathroom access, utilities.
Orientation
Home tour, routines, appliances, emergency numbers and house rules.
Payroll
Salary amount, date and method agreed; records kept from the first payment.
Communication
Agreed channel — typically WhatsApp — for daily questions and updates.
Start with the contract
The contract is the backbone of onboarding. If the terms were discussed in the interview but never written, the first disagreement will be the first discovery of the real terms. Confirm the signed contract covers the essentials before the worker starts.
- Duties and a clear priority when tasks compete
- Working hours, rest periods and the weekly day off
- Salary amount, payment date and method
- Accommodation, meals and utilities arrangements
- Leave, notice period and travel arrangements
- Communication expectations during work and rest hours
Prepare the accommodation
A worker arriving from abroad has no home tour and no alternatives. Prepare the room before arrival: clean, furnished, with a lockable door, bed, storage, ventilation and agreed bathroom access. Utilities and food arrangements should be agreed in the contract, not improvised on day one.
| Item | Check before arrival |
|---|---|
| Room | Private, clean, lockable, with bed, mattress, linen and wardrobe |
| Bathroom | Agreed access; private if the contract provides it |
| Utilities | Working electricity, water, cooling and ventilation |
| Food | Agreed arrangement — meals, allowance or shared cooking |
| Security | Working locks, keys handed over on arrival |
Basic accommodation checklist, dated September 2026. Standards vary by destination.
Run a structured orientation
Orientation is a tour with a checklist, not a quick walkthrough. New workers cannot absorb everything on day one, so plan the orientation over the first week and write the important parts down.
- Day 1: home tour, room, bathroom, kitchen, emergency exits
- Day 1: emergency numbers, alarm and lock procedures
- Day 2–3: appliances — washing machine, cooker, coffee maker — demonstrated
- Day 2–3: routines — meal times, school runs, children's schedules
- Day 4–5: house rules — guests, calls, pets, shopping and deliveries
- Week 1: written reference sheet left in the room for later
Set payroll up properly
Salary disputes are the most common and most avoidable conflict in domestic work. Agree the amount, the date and the method in the contract, then keep a simple record of every payment.
- Salary amount and currency in the contract
- Fixed payment date — paying late creates distrust quickly
- Agreed method: bank transfer or cash, with receipts kept
- Record of every payment in one place
- Any agreed increments or end-of-contract benefits stated in writing
Agree the communication channel
A domestic worker needs a reliable way to ask questions and report issues — and a reliable way for you to communicate back. In the GCC, WhatsApp is the de facto standard; agree the number, the language and the response expectations (including during rest hours).
- One agreed number for work communication
- Agreed language and who translates if needed
- Response expectations during work and rest hours
- Emergency contact line that is always answered
Onboarding checklist
Tick off each item as you complete it in the first weeks.
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Common questions
At the point of offer acceptance, not arrival. The contract and housing should be ready before the worker lands; orientation and payroll run from day one.
The written contract, because every other step — hours, salary, accommodation — is a term of it. Without the contract, onboarding is improvised.
The formal parts complete in the first week; full orientation of routines usually settles within two to four weeks. Schedule a check-in at the end of week one.
Pay on the agreed date. If you prefer a partial payment at the end of the first partial month, state that arrangement in the contract before arrival.
Agree the working language in advance, prepare a short written reference sheet in that language, and set up a translation method you both trust.
Signed contract, passport copy, permit and medical records, and payment records. Keep the file private and up to date.
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