Day work or live-in staff: make the arrangement clear
What to agree when household staff visit on selected days or live in: duties, schedules, rest and the arrangements for food and accommodation.
Will the person visit on selected days or live in? That changes household organisation, but a single label cannot decide every employment right.
Start with the actual work
Article 258 defines domestic work by regular household activity without profit for the employer or relatives. Working a few days does not automatically make someone an independent contractor.
Record days, duties and agreed pay. If the person works in several homes, keep each household schedule clear. Avoid last-minute changes that conflict with other commitments.
Living in is not permanent availability
Agree on sleeping arrangements, meals and rest. Article 260 addresses the valuation of food and lodging. It does not justify automatically adding 50% to every payment or changing terms without examining the applicable case.
Keep separate records
Record cash salary separately from accommodation conditions. Discuss and document an exceptional overnight stay or a new responsibility that changes the arrangement.
Our organisational recommendation is to review how it works after the first few weeks. What seemed clear at the beginning should continue to work for both the person and the household. A clear schedule helps identify problems before they become a recurring disagreement.
