The art of traveling with domestic staff requires meticulous planning and consideration. Through my years of experience working with UHNW clients in my personal career as well as staffing clients homes through Seaside Staffing Company, I’ve witnessed how thoughtful preparation transforms challenging transitions between residences into seamless relocations. This guide will help you navigate the complexities of maintaining household excellence while on the move.
Setting Clear Expectations
Success begins with communication weeks before departure. Your staff needs comprehensive travel details, including transportation arrangements, accommodation information, and preliminary schedules. This advanced notice allows them to prepare professionally and personally, ensuring they’re ready to provide uninterrupted service throughout the transition.
Financial Arrangements
Travel compensation deserves careful consideration. Standard practice includes compensating travel days at one and a half times the regular rate, providing adequate per diem for meals and incidentals, and ensuring staff members never pay out of pocket for work-related expenses. Consider establishing a household credit card or maintaining petty cash funds for immediate needs. When moving between locations like New York City and Aspen, understanding local pricing variations helps set appropriate per diem rates.
Chef Considerations
A private chef’s ability to maintain excellent service across locations depends heavily on pre-arrival preparation. Before reaching any destination, your chef should research local markets, establish relationships with vendors, and understand seasonal availability. A chef arriving in Aspen needs different resources than one working in Manhattan. Allow time for them to explore local sources and adapt menus to available ingredients.
Nanny Preparation
Your nanny requires adequate preparation time to ensure children’s routines remain consistent across locations. This includes researching age-appropriate activities, understanding local family-friendly venues, and preparing travel-specific entertainment options. A well-prepared nanny can maintain children’s schedules while incorporating exciting local experiences, whether it’s museum visits in New York or outdoor adventures in Colorado.
Living Arrangements
Quality accommodation for your staff directly affects their performance. Private rooms with appropriate amenities, separate bathroom facilities when possible, and dedicated workspace for planning demonstrate respect for their privacy and profession. Consider the location’s specific needs – a Manhattan apartment might require different arrangements than a spacious Aspen home.
Schedule Management
Maintaining clear boundaries becomes even more crucial during travel. Your staff needs guaranteed time off, defined break periods, and clear emergency protocols. When traveling to different time zones, consider how schedule adjustments affect your staff’s rest and recovery time. Remember that well-rested staff provide better service.
Additional Responsibilities
Travel often involves socializing with other families, which can create complicated staffing situations. If friends without household staff join your vacation, resist the temptation to share your staff without proper compensation and consent. Even if your nanny agrees to watch additional children, ensure extra compensation reflects the increased responsibility.
Location-Specific Planning
Each destination presents unique challenges and opportunities. In New York City, your staff needs to navigate dense urban environments, coordinate with building management, and handle city-specific logistics. Contrast this with Aspen, where weather considerations, altitude adjustment, and seasonal availability become primary concerns. Understanding these differences helps your staff prepare effectively.
Preventing Professional Burnout
Staff wellness directly impacts service quality. Regular check-ins about workload, maintaining clear boundaries, and recognizing additional travel stresses help prevent burnout. Consider offering additional compensation or time off after intense travel periods to maintain staff morale and retention.
Open Communication
Establish clear communication channels for daily operations. Regular scheduling discussions, easily accessible emergency contacts, and straightforward expense tracking systems help maintain smooth operations. Your staff should always know who to contact for different situations, whether routine or emergency.
Legal Protection
Ensure proper insurance coverage and understand employment laws in different locations. Staff should have appropriate health coverage, travel insurance, and worker’s compensation regardless of location. International travel requires additional documentation and legal considerations to protect both staff and family.
Long-Term Success
Building successful staff travel arrangements contributes significantly to retention. Consider implementing travel bonuses, providing professional development opportunities, and establishing clear career advancement paths. Recognize that staff who feel valued and protected provide superior service and maintain longer tenures.
Building Traditions
Over time, successful staff travel creates its own rhythm and traditions. Your chef might develop location-specific signature dishes, while your nanny creates special destination-based activities for the children. These traditions enhance the family’s experience while providing structure for staff operations.
Creating sustainable travel arrangements with domestic staff requires understanding their professional and personal needs. By providing appropriate compensation, clear expectations, and necessary resources, you enable your staff to maintain exceptional service across all your residences. Remember that investing in your staff’s comfort and success during travel pays dividends in loyalty, service quality, and household harmony.
Dara Yates is a veteran household staffing consultant and considered an expert in her field, with extensive experience in the household staffing space.
