Category Archives: Events

Household Staff and Covid-19 Vaccinations

As Covid-19 vaccines across America become more and more accessible, many of our clients find themselves with an array of questions regarding their household staff. Can an employer request an employee receive the vaccine? Can a client in the middle of a job search ask to interview vaccinated candidates only? How can an employers help employees with the vaccination process? We’ve pulled together a list of the most frequently asked questions here. If you have any other questions regarding Covid-19, vaccinations and household staff, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us directly.

For household employers, the recent vaccine developments bring up the question: can I require my nanny to get a vaccination? See Can You Require Your Nanny to Get a COVID-19 Vaccination? from our payroll partner, GTM Payroll Services for more information.

View more on British American Household Staffing’s blog. 

What Does a Live-In Nanny Do?

Why hire a live-in nanny?

Juggling work and family is a never-ending cycle of deadlines and to-do lists. Your schedule is filled to the brim: working in the day, picking the children up after school, taking them to their different activities, going home, cooking, cleaning, preparing the children’s food for the next morning and when the children are asleep ordering everything online, tidying up, trying to get some sleep, then starting all over again.

Do you think back to the time when your calendar actually had time in it for yourself, when you could go to the gym, sleep in, or order in? Juggling children, a partner, and a job can seem impossibly hard. Well, it doesn’t have to be with the right support structure in place.

We recommend hiring a live-in nanny or nanny/housekeeper for busy families with school-aged children. The house will be organized, children taken to school, picked up, meals prepared, and you will have time to breathe. You can get to the gym and on weekend days maybe sleep in. It isn’t impossible.

Some families ask “why not an au pair?” Au pairs are popular ideas, but finding a good caregiver is like winning the lottery. You could win a good one but most of the time they are almost young enough to be your own child and as carefree as when you were a late teen. Au pairs do not require the same amount of training or experience as a nanny. While this can be an adequate addition to your family, it’s better to make one hire that will last long-term and be an investment in your children’s development and success.

So, how does a family hire a live-in nanny or nanny/housekeeper and how are weekends covered, too?

View the full post on British American Household Staffing’s blog. 

Happy Mother’s Day

As we take an optimistic step into spring and welcome Mother’s Day, this Sunday 9th May, we also share a mix of feelings with this traditional holiday.

Whether we have a biological mother, a foster or an adoptive mom, a grandmother, aunt, sister or godmother, having a maternal figure in our lives provides us with warmth, wisdom, tradition, comfort and guidance.

Those of us lucky enough to have them round the corner, will be blessed to share the day with them, albeit masked up for understandable healthcare measures. Many of us will be sadly still  separated by the ongoing travel restrictions and left with long distance florist arrangements and FaceTime calls. There will be some of us who will raise a glass or light a candle for those who held our hands and now our hearts.

One thing for sure, whatever our situation, story or journey, we will all be united in gratitude to those who played a strong part in getting us here.

Read full post on British American Household Staffing’s blog. 

Sag Harbor Express Interviews Virva Hinnemo

By Annette Hinkle

Virva Hinnemo (b. 1976), an artist  in the Parrish exhibition “Affinities for Abstraction,” was born in Finland and now lives and works in Springs.

Q: As a female Abstract painter, did you face hurdles in what was initially a very male-dominated field?

I think this is a difficult question to answer. Yes, in some ways, the issue of being a woman painter has always been “there” for me. In school, the boys/men muscled their way. Many women students found a way to turn their womanhood into their artistic subject. I never wanted to hit the viewer over the head with that kind of a subject. I ask a lot from those who look at my work. My husband would call it “the long, slow look.”

I was always aware that I had stepped into a male-dominated world, and as a very young painter, I was conscious of not wanting to “paint like a girl.” A young painter does think some silly things: “Why can’t I paint like Guston? I don’t want my work to be pretty.”

Read the full interview on AnitaRogersGallery.com

Celebrating Teacher Appreciation Week

The last year of lockdowns have been turbulent to say the least but they’ve also resulted in an outpouring of praise from those having to homeschool their kids – celebrities included!

Teachers have never been shown as much gratitude and acclaim as they have recently due to parents everywhere realising the magnitude of round the clock education and keeping their youngsters occupied, focused, and on schedule with their learning.

It’s not as easy as we all assumed!

Jimmy Fallon declared “Teachers should make a billion dollars and get more vacation time,” while strumming his guitar on The Tonight Show.

As we celebrate Teacher Appreciation Week, we join you all in the gratitude to those who have been teaching from home in isolation, creating lessons remotely and patiently persevering throughout the pandemic to ensure students still receive sessions to maintain their grades and learning momentum.

View the full post on British American Household Staffing’s blog. 

Expecting and New Parents: Resources for Welcoming a New Baby

This week, the team here at British American Household Staffing has put together a collection of resources for new and expecting mothers, based both on personal experiences and years of working with new parents.

And, of course, should you require a newborn care specialist, nanny or any other household staff to help ease the transition of welcoming a little one into your home, don’t hesitate to reach out to us at anytime.

Recommended Items for the Home and Nursery

BÉABA Baby Food Maker: This French, sleek, small and minimal appliance is a must-have for new moms. It can steam and purée fruits, vegetables, meat and fish to the right consistency for any age.

View the full list of recommendations on British American Household Staffing’s blog.

 

International Women’s Day Featuring BAHS Team Members

The month of March is beautifully dedicated to Women’s History in celebrating the amazing accomplishments of ladies from the past and present. Here at British American Household Staffing for International Women’s Day on March 8th, we are thrilled to spotlight some of our team’s fabulous females who are leading the way in both their personal and professional lives, which we hope will be a positive reminder of reassurance and encouragement for all women.

 

A Word from our CEO & Founder Anita Rogers

“I am so proud to run two all-female companies [British American Household Staffing and Anita Rogers Gallery]. I believe in breaking through the glass ceiling and supporting women on their chosen journeys. Those who decide to become mothers will have job security with flexible work schedules to ensure they flourish in every aspect, at home and at work. We have such a cohesive and caring team at BAHS and I believe that to be due to us all being women who understand the stereotypes and challenges that we’ve at times previously faced within the workforce. Here at British American Household Staffing, we celebrate the continued success of a company built and led to inspire and encourage through diversity and strength within a sisterhood.”

 

Click here to read interviews with BAHS team members Catherine, Brittany and Abby. 

Private Spring Getaways

When we think of spring, we think of lush gardens, crisp vegetables, and time outdoors in the fresh air. Many of us are anxious to plan outdoor getaways, whether for a child’s spring break or just for a dose of warm weather after a long winter.

Many experts recommend booking an Airbnb or other rental property with just your family or pod members as the safest way to escape. Airbnb Luxe features private luxury homes that have been confirmed and inspected by Airbnb; the homes offer a variety of add-on concierge services, including airport pickups, grocery shopping, and in-home classes, such as wine tastings. We’ve selected our top destination homes that are available to book now for pandemic-safe spring vacations.

Napa Valley, California

Head to Calistoga, a small city in Napa Valley, and stay at this gorgeous vineyard estate. The property can accommodate up to 12 guests and features mountain views, lavender bushes, an olive grove, vineyard views, and impeccable landscaping. Visit nearby wineries, relax in the pool and hot tub, or take one of the bicycles out to enjoy the grounds. A full kitchen, formal dining area, ping pong table, bocce ball court, and trampoline ensures there is something for every member of the family to enjoy.

View the rest of the list on British American Household Staffing’s blog. 

Keep Moving: Physical Activities for Families

As we enter the final month of winter, many of us are counting down the days until the official start of spring. However, as we look forward to the warmer days ahead, it is important to continue to take care of ourselves and our loved ones while inside during the remaining winter days. The team here at British American Household Staffing has put together our list of top ways for families to stay active and spend time together, even in bad weather. One hour of physical activity per day is ideal to boost mood and energy, increase quality of sleep, build confidence, and promote overall health.

View our suggestions on the BAHS blog. 

Hire Qualified Yacht Crew for Your Vessel or Household

British American Yachts provides experienced, qualified and formally trained yacht staff including Stewards and Stewardesses, Deckhands, Engineers, Mates, and Captains. We work with yachts of all sizes and work from our Miami and London offices to service any location, from the Caribbean and the USA to Europe and Monaco.

 

 

 

 

Common Yacht Crew

Captain – responsible for the smooth running of the yacht, including managing crew, accounts, inventory, and all other administrative needs.

Engineer – responsible for all mechanical and electrical maintenance on board the yacht.

1st Mate – works under the Captain to support the yacht

Deckhand – ensures the exterior of the yacht is in pristine condition and working order.

Stewardess – responsible for attending to all guests on board and upkeep of the yacht interior.

Chef – manages all food ordering, stocking, and preparation.

Nanny – families may choose to employ a second nanny in place of or in addition to their full-time nanny to manage and care for children while on board the yacht.

The same attention to client needs and matchmaking set BAHS apart from other agencies. We start from the position that each yacht staffing need is unique, necessitating individual understanding. The breadth and experience of our pool of candidates allow us to service yachts of all sizes. Contact our office today to find the right crew for your vessel.

Why Do Yacht Crew Decide to Work on an Estate?

There is more turnaround on yachts than in estates as other captains will recruit crew for journeys and most jobs are temporary, rarely will a crew stay with a boat for years and the owners don’t want to pay the crew year round when they are not travelling.

Working as yacht crew operates similarly to contract work. The hours are long and hard while on call. After one job ends, crew will either take a break on land or find another boat to work on. After some time working on boats, it is common to see qualified and dedicated crew looking for permanent roles on an estate.

Why are Yacht Crew Good Hires for Household Staff?

To illustrate the work ethic and commitment of staff with yacht experience, look at the job description of a chief stewardess:

  • Oversee the interior of the vessel including upholding service requirements, concierge, housekeeping, and laundry
  • Plan and coordinate events
  • Care for all guests and cater to their unique preferences
  • Prepare invoices for charter guests
  • Train other members on the crew in the standards of care for the ship, guests, and crew.
  • Oversee interior maintenance work
  • Coordinate planning with the yacht’s owner, including all the planning involved in a booking a vessel of 23 crew members and 18 guests
  • Must be available at all times
  • Working hard to prepare the vessel and process orders before guests arrive

These skills are easily transferable to domestic staffing. Attention to detail, working with the guests’ preferences in mind, and working efficiently are all stellar qualities in household staff. For example, housekeeping on a yacht must be exceptional and seamless due to the close quarters and fast-paced schedule. There is so much to do onboard that tasks must be done correctly the first time.

 Hire Qualified Household Staff & Yacht Crew

 

If you are an estate manager, house manager, personal assistant, or principal hiring for an estate, you cannot go wrong hiring seasoned yacht crew who are looking for a change of pace.

If you are crew looking for employment, please send your CV with a general application.