What If Automated Cleaners Replace Housekeepers

What would you think if all housework could be completed simply by an automated system made to work magic completely on its own? Let's enter that world for one minute to see what it would bring us.

*First of all, we would not worry about whether the housekeeper arrived on time, because time only relates to the moment we program our automated cleaner to work. Just like a coffee maker, you could simply set it up the night before.

*No need to argue with your housekeeper as to why she/he is not accurately doing the job...well, you could argue, but no one will be answering. Eventually, your family member will be wondering about these screaming matches you are having with the automated cleaner.

*You won't need to negotiate prices and salary increase,nor vacation time, nor over time, because the automated housekeeper simply doesn't care about those things.

*It won't be necessary to replace the housekeeper when she/he has personal issues or is ill, because the automated cleaner is always available and never says "I can't be there for you".

Well, sounds good to me so far. There are just a few problems with this robot that is here ready, willing and able to replace the human housekeeper.

Does it pick up the newspaper and make you coffee in the morning?
Does it greet you with warmth and ask you if you would like breakfast?
Does it help you get the kids ready and off to school?
Does it strip the beds, organize the rooms and start the laundry?
Does it clean every room from top to bottom?
Does it put fresh flowers in vases around the house?
Does it grocery shop, make dinner and set the table?
Does it organize your closets, drawers and cabinets?
Does it get into the crevices and corners of every room and clean thoroughly?
Does it fluff up pillows, straighten rugs and pictures and attend to every detail?
Does it leave a home sparkling clean?

Well, until it does, I suppose the good ole fashion "human housekeeper" will have to do.

No Yelling, No Crying, No Walking off the Job

A full charge nanny and housekeeper called late Friday night in tears. Her boss had come home in a mad rush eager to get ready for dinner guests that evening. As she drove into the garage, she ran over a toy that was left inadvertently by her child and not picked up by the housekeeper. The employer was naturally upset. She didn't want to have to deal with this when she was already under pressure to get ready for the evening plans. She reacted emotionally and raised her voice; at which point, the employee also responded emotionally, began to cry and walked out 30 minutes prior to her scheduled departure from work. All of this was inappropriate on everyone's part. The toys should not be left in the middle of the garage. First of all, children should be trained to put their toys back. In this case, the child was old enough to know better. The nanny should have been vigilant in checking that the child had followed through. If the child hadn't, then the nanny's role is to ask the child to put the toys to one side, explaining that when mommy gets home and pulls her car in the garage, if the toys are not put away, she might run over them.

Here is more about how everyone was at fault: the mother yelled because she was frustrated, maybe had a bad day, maybe just because she was under pressure about the evening and getting ready for it. Raising your voice at anyone, especially employees wears thin. No one likes it, and eventually, no one will tolerate it. Everything between employees and employers must be handled in a civil manner - it becomes a "conversation". Secondly, the employee was completely unprofessional in turning to tears and leaving the job 30 minutes early. This is an employee/employer relationship, not one that you have with a boyfriend or husband. Tears are inappropriate. If an employee is not happy about her employer's conduct, then this is a "conversation" and should not be an emotional one. When you bring emotion into the equation, you risk elevating the problem and losing sight of how to solve it.

Problems can be solved only by a "conversation" where both parties are understanding of everyone's position and needs and seek to find a solution.