The Domestic-Service Industry and War
Editorial

As the drums of war beat louder every day, the domestic industry should listen. War, or just the thought of perhaps going to war, is wreaking havoc with the economy, not only in the behavior of stocks, but also in how it affects our lives, including how much we travel and how we travel. And now that worry is seeping down to jobs in the domestic world.

Domestic industry employees are being affected as their employers face a potential downturn in their businesses and other holdings. Some of you employed in the domestic world have been reporting that households are tightening their budgets and are avoiding salary increases.

Some household employers have reported that, since many individuals are laid off and companies are downsizing, they feel they can hire a great domestic employee for less.

New England Domestic News has reviewed typical salaries for those employed in Beverly Hills, San Francisco, Chicago, Dallas, New York and Boston, which are generally the higher-salaried areas of the country. We are seeing some employers offer lower-than-usual wages, no medical insurance up front, and many of them are demanding trial periods of up to six months to see if the new employee is worth the salary they are requesting.

So, maybe holding onto your old job is not a bad thing. If you are looking for a new one because the position you have is ending, flexibility is the key to finding it. Gone are the days when stocks were on a non-stop climb and domestic help could name their price. Gone are the bidding wars for outstanding domestic employees.

In short, the household employee market is a different game. Job seekers need to remember that “service” is about what the employer needs – not what they need as an employee.

A Sad Story

We are sure you have all heard about the recent fire at The Station nightclub, in West Warwick, Rhode Island, that took 99 lives and injured scores, many of them still in the hospital facing a long recovery.

We at New England Domestic News are thinking about the victims, their families and the survivors of this terrible fire and we hope you will open your hearts and make a donation, as we have, to help the victims’ families and the survivors, of The Station nightclub fire.

Please send what you can to:
Nightclub Fire Relief Fund
C/O United Way of Rhode Island
229 Waterman Street
Providence, RI 02906
Checks should be made out to: Nightclub fire relief fund
Or you can make a donation on-line at www.uwri.org/station

Thank you!!