Hiring a Helper, especially in a bustling country like Singapore, is a significant decision that impacts your family’s well-being and safety. While skills and experience are often prioritized, there’s one crucial step that cannot be overlooked: a thorough background check. Failing to conduct background checks can lead to unfortunate situations that disrupt family life, and in some cases, pose serious risks.
Why Background Checks Are Essential When Hiring a Helper
Conducting a comprehensive background check provides peace of mind and helps ensure that the Helper you welcome into your home is reliable, trustworthy, and a good fit for your family. Here are some real-life cases where employers in Singapore faced challenges because they skipped this important step:
- Financial Mismanagement and Theft
One employer hired a Helper based solely on her experience. However, over time, money went missing, and there were suspicious charges on the employer’s accounts. The Helper, as it turned out, had a history of financial misdeeds in her previous employment in Singapore, which a background check would have revealed. - Safety and Stability Risks
Another family employed a Helper without checking her employment record thoroughly. They later discovered that she had a history of leaving jobs abruptly, which created significant instability in their household. This history could have been uncovered through a simple employment check, helping the employer avoid the hassle and potential risk. - Red Flags on Social Media
Social media can reveal a lot about a person’s character and values. In one case, an employer found alarming posts on their Helper’s social media, suggesting behavior inconsistent with their household values. By then, tensions had escalated, affecting family dynamics. A social media screening could have highlighted these concerns earlier.
Essential Checks When Hiring a Helper in Singapore
At EELIT AGENCY, we understand the importance of conducting rigorous background checks for every Helper we place. Here’s what our background check process includes to ensure safety and trustworthiness:
- Employment History in Singapore
We verify the Helper’s work history in Singapore, including feedback from previous employers, reasons for leaving past jobs, and any performance notes. This provides a clear picture of the Helper’s work ethic, reliability, and adaptability in a Singaporean household. - Employment History in Home Country
Knowing the Helper’s work history in her home country adds another layer of assurance. We look for consistency in job tenure, speaks to other Helpers who are in the same training centre and any red flags that might not be visible from her recent experiences alone. - Social Media Screening
Reviewing social media profiles can provide insight into a candidate’s character, interests, and behaviors, ensuring they align with your household’s values. This step can help catch potential red flags, such as risky behaviors or attitudes incompatible with family dynamics.
Additional Background Checks to Consider
Our goal at EELIT AGENCY is to make the Helper hiring process as secure as possible for our clients. In addition to our standard background checks, here are some additional measures we can take to enhance safety and suitability:
- Criminal Background Check
Verifying any criminal history, both in Singapore and the Helper’s home country, ensures that there are no undisclosed legal issues that could pose a risk to your household. - Medical and Mental Health Screening
Comprehensive medical and mental health evaluations can ensure the Helper is physically and mentally capable of performing her duties. Some agencies include these checks to confirm overall health and fitness for the job. - Personality and Aptitude Assessments
These assessments provide a better understanding of the Helper’s adaptability, resilience, and interpersonal skills, ensuring a strong fit with your family’s needs.