From what I understand cleaning and keeping things from having to be cleaned by the family they serve (partially preventive maintainence and repairs as well) is the primary function of most servants other duties included carrying things. What you clean and are responsible for depends upon your position in the household. A butler would manage staff as well as busily perform many tasks and keep the account of the household books. A houseboy may not clean much except under supervision but was expected to make certain visitors information was conveyed appropriately to the correct person.

When not actively cleaning, serving, eating at preplanned mealtimes or sleeping in bunk rooms consider oneself to be 'on call'. Someone has to show up when a serving bell is rung. In addition if a member of the family sees one in passing be ready in case they ask anything even in The middle of another job. They will instruct how fast information needs to be carried or any additional duties to be carried out. Gossip is often exchanged and if lettered enough under a kindly master reading a few bits here and there might be approved.

Staff got a half day a week to spend as they wished (going to the town was not out of the qiestion) this time was moveable to adjust for various needs but the employers had 16 hours a day coverage expected at a minimum, if not in essence 24 hours a day if needed.

Things to keep in mind: an unlanded son might be in the (nearly all male) staff right alongside the son of a peasant farmer. Especially if that Peasant son was able to get some training in letters. The noble son might be in training to head his own household while the peasant stock The food could be quite good. ('leftovers' from the main family's meal to food from the same cook and ingredients or nearly so that made the householder's families meal. Two suits of clothing to wear on their day off (rest of the time they were dressed in livery (household clothing that while individually fitted were not owned by the servant) as well as a little spending money plus the benefits noted of having no food, housing or work clothing expenses can give advantages over many others.

Downton Abbey can give some good insights for casual enterainment source, adjusting backwards to the relevant period of time and for regional flavor. Specifically for good societal view of all parts see if you can find Maurice Keen's English Society in the later middle ages 1348-1500 included in part lest others here assume I am merely a Pop culturist of no real learning.