Household Workers

The work environment for household workers varies according to the duties performed. Some job responsibilities are done indoors and others, such as gardening and household repairs, may have to be performed outdoors.

Almost all household employees spend their working hours at the family residence; however, laundry workers may work in their own homes. Few household workers actually live with their employers for any period of time. Those who do usually enjoy a private room and bath of their own.

Dayworkers often acquire several clients for whom they do cleaning and other chores on a part-time basis at specific intervals. Duties are negotiated with each employer, sometimes on a day-to-day basis. Even though modern washing and cleaning equipment and materials have helped considerably, housework can involve hard, dirty labor, especially for dayworkers who usually are given the heavier tasks to do. Some added demand for dayworkers picks up during the holiday season, but work tends to fall off for them and other household workers during the summer vacation months.