The Rinse Cycle and Leather Pants

At Laborfair, our goal is to connect people looking to hire household or personal help with those looking for work in a fair, trusted, and responsible way. We don't believe the world needs more employment agencies but we know finding good quality responsive providers isn't always easy. People, well, they are not products, they don't perform always the same way every time your invite their services. Indeed, everyone's view of the accuracy and excellence of a job completed varies based on subjectivity. For example, I love the fact that Irma cleans my refrigerator weekly and throws out any food that is slightly "suspect". I marvel at how she meticulously folds the toilet paper into corners on the dispenser like they do at the Ritz Carlton or dare I say, one of nasty Queen Leona's former establishments. This could be way too intrusive for some, and very very welcome by others. I am a bit less thrilled about Irma's bizarre inclination to hide my bathrobe from me--I have realized this twice now, both times on a cold, fog-filled morning once out of the shower, shivering, mildly wet and annoyed. Or perhaps the time she washed my leather pants in an effort to clean them (I promptly cursed all hearty combinations of New York slang appropriate to lament the demise of my clubbing leathers and made the mental note never to leave any article of clothing slung haphazardly over a chair again). Well, I guess anyone would have an issue with that. But, you get my point. People are people and it's important to be clear about what you do and do not want done. While contractual arrangements can be part of any good employment arrangement, they're not always completed, we don't always follow that level of detail. Beyond a personal checklist which I recommend highly for housecleaning, childcare, gardening and handymen interaction, I recommend posting a review. Reviewing a provider is a great way of being honest and even helpful to the provider with extravagant praise or constructive criticism. Just as restauranteurs read reviews of their food and service to tap the pulse of the public, providers can learn from your comments, well intentioned either way. Lastly, I can't stress enough how important it is to trust your gut feeling after you meet with someone you get from Laborfair or any other service--even if they come very highly recommended. It's up to you.