Use the first week to explain the home, demonstrate the agreed tasks and build a reliable communication routine. Start with a small set of priorities and expand the routine after reviewing what works. A clear orientation helps the family and the worker understand the same job; it is separate from an agency trial, a probation clause or a promise of immediate independent performance.
Explain
Share the role, household routine and named contact.
Demonstrate
Show the equipment, method and expected result.
Practise
Check understanding and resolve conflicting priorities.
Review
Record feedback and adjust the next agreed routine.
Original practical example to use within agreed working days and rest arrangements.
Prepare the handover before the first working day
Identify one family contact who can answer questions and approve changes. Write down the household’s essential routines, the tasks in the agreement and the arrangements for meals, accommodation or arrival where relevant. Prepare access instructions, appliance manuals and a place for work materials. Show the worker how to contact the responsible adult if a task cannot proceed safely.
Work begins through the applicable employment and service arrangement. Keep the signed documents accessible and refer to the UAE Government domestic-worker guidance for the official framework. INAYA’s hiring stages guide explains the distinction between selecting a candidate and arranging the start of service.
Use a first-week orientation map
This is an original example for a seven-day calendar window. Place the touchpoints around the agreed working days and rest; it is not seven consecutive days of work or a fixed training programme.
| Touchpoint | Family demonstration or discussion | Useful record |
|---|---|---|
| First working day | Home layout, agreed role, contacts, access and immediate priorities | Contact sheet and a short task list |
| Next working day | Appliance controls, materials, storage and the preferred result | Simple equipment and task instructions |
| Middle of the week | Practise the routine and ask the worker to explain it back | Questions, adjustments and priority order |
| Later working days | Check the workload and coordination with other family responsibilities | Updated handover sheet and rest arrangements |
| End-of-week review | Discuss what is clear, what needs demonstration and the next routine | Agreed changes and the next review point |
Demonstrate one task before judging the result
Show a complete example: the correct product, the surface or garment, the expected finish and where tools are put away. Ask the worker to describe the sequence in the language you use together. This identifies unclear instructions without treating a request for explanation as a lack of ability. Photos of a preferred arrangement can help when the family and worker agree to use them; keep personal documents and private images out of a task sheet.
Avoid giving instructions through several family members at once. If one person asks for ironing while another requests kitchen preparation, the named contact should resolve the priority. Read the household duties guide before expanding the role or adding competing tasks.
Make the working relationship clear
Discuss when instructions are shared, how breaks and rest fit the arrangement, which areas are private and what information stays within the household. Where childcare forms part of the role, explain the child’s routine and the parent’s escalation instructions separately from general cleaning. The Abu Dhabi ECA competency framework highlights respectful communication with families and attention to children’s safety; it is a useful assessment reference, not evidence that an individual holds a particular certificate.
Keep orientation distinct from legal probation or a proposed trial. Use the interview, trial and probation guide to understand those separate concepts. A first-week checklist does not replace the contract or alter its terms.
Hold a short two-way review
Ask four practical questions: Which instructions are clear? Which task needs another demonstration? Is the priority list realistic within the agreed schedule? What should change before the next working day? Record the answer and the person responsible for each action. Recognise tasks performed well as well as points needing improvement. If a service issue requires coordination, use the INAYA support process with a factual description and the relevant agreement details.
Customer questions and answers
Should a new maid know every household routine immediately?
Explain and demonstrate the routines that are specific to your home. Begin with agreed priorities, invite questions and review the result before expanding the routine.
Does a first-week plan mean a free trial?
No. Orientation is the practical introduction to the home after the appropriate start arrangements. Any trial or probation has its own legal and contractual basis.
Who should give daily instructions?
Choose one family contact to coordinate priorities and approve changes. Other household members can pass requests through that contact to avoid conflicting instructions.
What should the end-of-week review cover?
Review clear instructions, tasks needing demonstration, the workload and the next changes. Record the agreed actions and give both the family and worker a chance to raise questions.