Household Staffing Contracts: What Every Family Should Include

A household employment contract is not bureaucracy — it is the document that keeps a professional relationship professional. Families who skip it rarely regret it immediately; they regret it at the first disagreement. These are the clauses that matter.

The essentials

• Duties and schedule — written, specific, including flexibility rules
• Compensation, overtime and review dates
• Probation period and notice terms on both sides
• Confidentiality (NDA) — standard at this level, not an insult
• Housing terms for live-in roles, including guest and privacy rules

The clauses families forget

Travel expectations, social media rules, phone use around children, and what happens to photos of the home. In UHNW households, also: visitor policies for staff quarters and a clear process for concerns — the first conversation is easier than the last one.

Who drafts it?

A specialized agency drafts and benchmarks the contract as part of the placement — at Elite Swiss, this is included in every search, together with salary guidance and the 12-month guarantee. Legal review by your counsel is always welcome on top.

Learn more about our standard (us.elite-swiss.com/blog/domestic-staffing-agency-usa-guide) or start a conversation at us.elite-swiss.com/contact