I seriously can't cope with managing "staff". can anyone advise me please!

[somuchtosortout]

I realise this is the ultimate first world problem, but it is actually affecting my day to day life.

having arrived in a very poor country in Africa last year I was greeted by a full time housekeeper and gardener living in an annexe to my house.

ok, just reading that back makes me sound awful!

we have an enormous house that gets covered in sandy African dust every day.

in an ideal world I would prob manage most of it myself, live in a bit of a muddle, just like we did in the UK. Maybe get a twice a week cleaner.

but I can't. Suddenly I have a gardener's assistant (nephew), a helper in the kitchen (friend).

I thought it wad good to give people jobs and salaries.

now I am surrounded by people gossiping in a language I don't understand, waiting for instructions, and today I have just locked myself in my bedroom!!!

everyone has a need, a sick relative, a school fee. I have tried to help and help.
I have even paid for professional training for housekeeper in the hope she could start her own business ( and leave). Same with gardener.

I don't know what I am asking here, but I can't be the only expat with this problem? I wasn't brought up like this, no idea how to organize such a big 'household'.

I'm so homesick for my muddly little flat in London ..... I'm not the only one am I?

Joining the thread late but agree with all of the above. A carbon copy payslip/receipt book is important for me as there have been cases here of staff accusing employers of not letting them have public holidays off etc.

It takes getting used to but I have to admit I'll really miss it when we go back to the UK!

I was 22 when I moved to a West African country with my DH, to be told, here's your house and here's your house boy, Jacques. He will be working for you full time and you need to pay him x per month. There were only 2 of us, we were used to living like students and had no need for anyone working for us. However, Jacques was saving up to get married and needed the work.

In the end, we worked out that the most comfortable thing for all concerned was to treat him like an au pair. He worked for us part time (we paid him full time), helped me with my French, had a room in our house where he kept some clothes and did ironing for various people and worked part time for several other families.

By the time we left he had paid for and passed his HGV driving test and was able to get a (much better paid) job as a lorry driver.