her abilities. She should attend domestic science training courses in the community, and, if possible, receive the certificate or diploma that signifies successful completion of the course. If no such training opportunities exist, she should register a request for such a course at the local vocational or adult education school and encourage other household workers to do likewise. In order to obtain the job for which she is best suited and to enjoy good working conditions, the worker is advised to register at the community employment service with the highest standards. During the registration interview she should fully explain her personal preferences concerning working where there are animals, children, old people, invalids, or employed couples, and give other relevant information. She should also explain what are her best skills and favorite types of work. Once on the job, the worker should follow high standards of personal conduct. Since the work is physically demanding, it is desirable to observe good rules. of health and hygiene. An annual physical examination is advisable. The worker should also maintain rules of professional ethics in the confidential treatment of all family affairs of her employers. The household employee is urged to participate in group recreation and social and cultural activities in order to compensate for the isolation of her job. It is particularly recommended that she work with other household workers to promote their occupational interests through such organizations as a local household employment committee, a domestic workers' union, or a club for household workers at the YWCA. Such organizations are valuable to the individual and also offer an opportunity to improve general standards through promoting better local working conditions and through work for the extension of legislative protection, both Federal and State, to household employees. APPENDIXES INTRODUCTION The following materials illustrate some of the efforts being made by various agencies to help solve the problem of domestic employment for both the employer and the employee. The New York State Employment Service plan shows the threefold function of a placement agency. Recognizing that satisfaction to both the employer and the employee will result from fitting the person to the job, the Employment Service has developed a program which provides job descriptions, job standards, and sample contract agreements. It is hoped that the use of these three forms jointly, by establishing good standards of working conditions, placement procedure, and work requirements, will help to lessen, if not remove the major disadvantages of domestic employment and put this work on an equal basis with other comparable occupations. This appendix shows only one example of a complete placement plan of the New York State Employment Service, that for general maid. The job description and job standards, but not the contract agreement, are also shown for the occupation of laundress. The Employment Service has prepared job descriptions, job standards, and contract agreements for six other occupations, as described above (p. 24). The standards are essentially the same except for descriptions of duties, and the contract agreements are also practically identical with the one shown. The referral, application, and personal reference cards of the Harlem Placement Bureau incorporate minimum standards in the records, aid in efficient placement, and provide a means of checking the satisfaction of the employer and employee. Standards are also presented which have been developed by general household employment committees in Cincinnati; Oakland, Calif.; St. Paul-Minneapolis; and Syracuse. Standards of an employers' group are represented by those of the Chicago Household Employers' League. In addition, the employer and employee cards and work-agreement form of the United Domestic Workers Local 1348 (CIO), Washington, D. C., have been included as an example of a union's efforts to improve employees' hours, wages and working conditions. 40 APPENDIX A New York State Employment Service SPECIFICATIONS AND AGREEMENT The attached are dependent upon each other and should be used together. They include: 1. Job description.—This elaborates on the dictionary definition giving a more complete picture of the job in general as it exists locally. 2. Job standards.—On the basis of the job description, sample minimum standards are described for the full-time job as it exists locally at present time. These standards are a guide allowing for variations in worker qualifications and in job requirements. No attempt has been made to cover the trainee situation which would involve on the job training and courses at school. 3. Agreement.-(1) Form. (2) Sample. This is to be filled in for a specific job. It defines hours, wages, and conditions of employment for that job and is to be signed by employer and worker. Changes may be made when necessary. Prepared by: STAFF OF HOUSEHOLD OFFICES, 41 JOB SUMMARY 1. JOB DESCRIPTION-MAID, GENERAL Performs, under immediate supervision or in accordance with employer's instructions, varied domestic duties in a household. TASKS PERFORMED 1. Prepares and serves meals. Prepares food, cooks and serves meals in accordance with instructions from employer. May follow own recipes. Sets table, serves meals, washes dishes. 2. Keeps house clean and Cleans entire house, including washing and waxing orderly. 3. Performs various miscellaneous tasks. floors and woodwork, dusting and polishing furniture, making beds and changing linen, vacuuming rugs, beds, furniture, cleaning venetian blinds. Polishes silver and other metalware. May clean windows. May answer telephone and doorbell, may care for children occasionally and watch them at play. May prepare meals for invalid or elderly person. MACHINES, TOOLS, SUPPLIES, AND EQUIPMENT 1. Cooking appliances and Stove, refrigerator, toaster, broiler, cookers, waffle equipment. irons, mixers, dishes, glassware and silverware, pots and pans, cooking utensils, dishwashing machines, towels, dishcloths. 2. Laundry equipment... Washers, ironers, wringers, dryers, tubs, wash boards, ironing boards, baskets, hangers, pins, lines, stretchers, cleaning fluids, bluings, soaps, and starches. 3. Cleaning equipment. Vacuum cleaners, brooms, mops, brushes, sweepers, cloths, chamois, gloves, sponges, pails, dustpans, abrasives, waxes, polishes, soaps, powders, cleaning fluids, and disinfectants. PERFORMANCE REQUIREMENTS A. Education____ C. Responsibility---- D. Job knowledge---- Literacy preferred, but not necessary. Must have had experience in own home or homes of others. May substitute training which included homemaking experience. Responsible for carrying out instructions. Must cooperate with person responsible for management of household, also with other members of family. Should know how to use and clean properly all equipment, such as vacuum bag and brushes, and how to use materials appropriate to specific job. Should know elementary rules of cooking, laundry, and cleaning. E. Mental application. Should be sufficiently alert to be able to act in Should be able to give attention F. Dexterity and accuracy. emergencies. to many items simultaneously. Must have sufficient manual dexterity to use tools and equipment without breakage. Must be sufficiently accurate to follow recipes and take telephone messages, if answering telephone is one of specified duties. G. Working conditions___ (1) Surroundings.—Healthy, informal, comfortable environment, close personal contact with other persons in house, may sleep in. (2) Hazards.-Careless use and placement of equipment and tools. Workers not protected by industrial rules and regulations or covered by compensation, except for New York State Legislation effective January 1, 1947. H. Physical requirements. Ordinarily female, of legal work age. Must have Must physical endurance, emotional stability. I. General comments. Most jobs represent different combinations of the above duties and skills in varying degrees. Item 6 (duties) in the suggested agreement should be used flexibly to cover the actual duties of specific jobs. |