- A butler is a high-ranking servant in a large household who oversees a plethora of household duties as well as supervises any and all servants that rank below him. For centuries, butlers have had the role of being the main servant who handles the many details of keeping and maintaining the structure of a home. The term "butler" generally refers to a male servant who may also be referred to as the majordomo, estate manager, manservant or staff manager. They typically dress in formal black suits with a crisp white shirt and tie, and are placed in charge of all major household matters.
- A butler starts his workday very early. The morning is spent arranging for breakfast to be made for the entire household as well as arranging for freshly laundered clothing to be delivered to each member of the family. As the day progresses, the butler stays in charge of supervising all maintenance procedures, including sweeping the floors, vacuuming, making the beds, washing the dishes, organizing appliances, grocery shopping and stocking the refrigerator and pantry. At lunchtime, the butler arranges for all the lunch preparations to take place, including deciding on the menu and setting the table. The butler must also arrange for similar preparations during dinnertime. Additionally, he is responsible for taking care of the grounds, which includes any landscaping and gardening duties.
- Other daily duties include running miscellaneous errands, such as receiving and sending mail, filing important documents, answering the phone and screening important calls, organizing closet space, taking the cars to be washed, sending thank-you notes on behalf of the employer and interviewing prospective members of the household staff.
