Household Responsibilities Alleviated by Hiring House Managers

Full-time working mom Kelly Hubbell was at her wit's end when she realized just how much time she was devoting to household work - 23 hours a week to be exact.

The overwhelming bulk of this time wasn't spent on actual chores, but rather on planning and organization tasks that took up a significant portion of her evenings and weekends.

Hubbell recalls thinking it would be wonderful if she could somehow clone herself, freeing up more time for her family and personal life.

She began searching for someone to take over these responsibilities, referring to them as a "house manager who could oversee the daily logistics and errands that were weighing her down.

After finding a suitable candidate, Hubbell experienced an almost immediate sense of relief, feeling like she could now be fully present with her children and enjoy some much-needed respite from the mental load.

The concept of a house manager is slowly gaining traction as a solution to alleviate the burden of household responsibilities on working parents. Online job listings now include house manager" as a sought-after position, and specialized agencies are emerging to connect busy families with qualified professionals.

One key distinction between a house manager and a babysitter lies in their level of authority and responsibility. A house manager is empowered to take initiative and make decisions about household matters, such as managing errands or handling finances, whereas a babysitter's role typically involves more hands-on childcare duties.

The cost of hiring a house manager can be substantial, with families paying between $25 to $45 an hour for 15 to 20 hours of work per week. This translates to an annual salary range of around $20,000 to $47,000, or even higher for full-time positions that can pay upwards of $50,000 to $120,000 depending on location and scope.

The rates charged by companies like Sage Haus are significantly higher than the average hourly rate listed in job postings. According to Indeed, house manager listings typically advertise around $23 an hour, but families willing to invest in a more comprehensive solution may find value in the added support and expertise of a dedicated house manager.

For dual-income households struggling to balance work and family responsibilities, the appeal of hiring a house manager lies in its potential to alleviate stress and allow parents to focus on their careers. Research suggests that mothers of young children are disproportionately affected by return-to-office mandates and limited childcare options, with many opting to reduce hours or leave the workforce altogether.

Mothers in the US are disproportionately responsible for managing household tasks, with 71% of mental-load duties falling on their shoulders, according to a recent study by researchers from the University of Bath and the University of Melbourne.

This significant burden is often invisible, meaning it doesn't receive recognition or compensation, despite being essential to keeping family life running smoothly. In contrast, fathers take on around 45% of these responsibilities, with some tasks overlapping between parents.

The stigma surrounding hiring help at home can make people uncomfortable, but Sage Haus aims to normalize this practice by putting a value on the work that has traditionally been left unacknowledged and unpaid. The company's mission is to remove shame and guilt from seeking support for household duties.

Sage Haus, which now employs over 60 staff members, offers a range of services, including working with around 100 families each month across the US and Canada. The company also has a network of more than 7,000 house managers who can be hired to assist households, and it sells a certification course for $99 that teaches these individuals how to anticipate needs and provide discreet support.

The concept of house management as a career path is gaining traction, with opportunities for advancement to corporate administrative roles and vice versa. Hubbell believes that high executive functioning skills are essential for this type of work, which involves managing complex household needs.

According to Oxfam's estimate, the unpaid care work done by women and girls worldwide has a staggering value of at least $10.8 trillion annually. In the US alone, unpaid household labor is valued at up to $6 trillion per year, accounting for about one-fifth of the country's GDP.

By paying individuals to manage household tasks, companies like Sage Haus are challenging the notion that such work should be done voluntarily by family members. This shift in perspective may seem indulgent, but it highlights a broader issue: why has unpaid household labor been accepted as a given?