In a year marked by rising living costs, economic instability, and increasing pressures on immigrant families, domestic workers continue to sustain households under conditions that, in many cases, remain precarious.
At a recent gathering of domestic workers from across the country, most said they had never received an end-of-year bonus from their employers. That is why the National Domestic Workers Alliance and Hand in Hand, the national network of domestic worker employers, publish the Annual Raise and End-of-Year Bonus Guide each year, a document that outlines what should be the industry standard for fair compensation in domestic work.
Note: The National Domestic Workers Alliance is a partner organization of La Alianza.
Recommendations for 2025
According to the guide, a salary increase of 3 to 5% is recommended this year to account for inflation and the rising cost of living. If the employer did not give a raise in previous years, a larger increase is recommended.
It also suggests a year-end bonus that should be equivalent to at least 1 or 2 weeks’ pay, and for those who clean less regularly, it recommends payment for one or two cleanings.
The guide also states that workers should receive guaranteed pay, even if the employer’s schedule changes during the holidays. A higher wage is also recommended for house cleaning during the holiday season, when homes are busier and more thorough cleaning may be necessary.
Vacation, transportation, and paid time off
It is suggested that all employers should offer at least two weeks of paid vacation that can be taken at any time of the year, in addition to a transportation allowance and paid time off for illness or family emergencies.
Although these practices are considered standard in other sectors of employment, in domestic work they are still the exception. Many workers, especially those working without a contract or with irregular hours, continue to have no access to paid vacation, sick leave, or basic benefits, despite performing essential and physically demanding work.
End of the year: a good time to ask for a raise
According to the guide, it is never a bad time to ask for a raise, but the end of the year is particularly good. However, due to the informal nature of the sector, it is not always the employer who initiates the conversation.
If you choose to have this conversation with your employer via text message or email, you can find a sample of what to say to start the conversation at this link. You can also download the recommendations to print them out and leave them at your employer’s home.
How to talk to your employer
For many workers, asking for a raise or requesting benefits from their employer can be intimidating, especially in a context where there is still fear of retaliation or losing job stability. Here are some recommendations for starting that conversation:
- Choose the right moment: find a time when both parties can talk calmly.
- Emphasize the positive working relationship: Start the conversation by emphasizing the positive working relationship, acknowledging the employer’s trust and commitment to daily responsibilities.
- Explain who created the guide: Explain that the guide was produced by Hand in Hand, in conjunction with the National Domestic Workers Alliance. The goal is to make it clear that these recommendations are the industry standard and that thousands of employers already use them.
- Be specific in your request: Be clear about how much of a raise you want or what benefits you need. If the meeting is in person, we suggest printing out the guide and giving it directly to your employer.
- Remain open to negotiation: The guide recommends you to be flexible, as your employer may have budget constraints or may want to discuss other alternatives.
It is recommended that you explain that “a bonus will recognize your good work and a raise will reflect inflation and the increased cost of living.”
Get everything in writing
After talking to your employer, it is recommended that you send them an email or text message summarizing what you discussed. If they agreed to give you a raise, it is important to ask for it in writing.
For those who do not have a contract, this may be the best time to request one. You can download a sample contract at this link.
We also recommend reading our series on Negotiation Tools.
Editor’s note: This article was originally written in Spanish and translated into English
