by twice_as_nice » Sat Jan 21, 2012 9:54 am
I think the most important thing is that you feel comfortable and happy doing the work you're asked for the compensation you're getting.
I don't have an au pair, never have (as yet) but I do think he probably is taking the p*ss a bit - as someone said, men can be a bit happier to do that than mums!
I personally normally go the other way, making sure my house is really tidy before the cleaner comes and not asking her to do the annoying bits like moving our massive heavy sofa to clean under it which I do myself! My husband thinks I'm mental!
I think he's probably going to push you as far as he can. Looking at it from the other side, I suspect your employers feel that they can ask you to do all this cleaning as they are paying you 50% more than the expected compensation for the same amount of hours (you don't seem to be doing more than the 35 hours that are expected of an au pair).
You need to feel comfortable in the place that you're living and it sounds like you're not so if you're not comfortable, you should have a word with them. You could always try and negotiate £100 pay for primarily childcare and light house work, which would give them £50 to get a cleaner each week. And if they don't change then you should move, knowing that you may find yourself in a similar situation with less wages (unfortunately I expect there are lots of families who expect too much of their au pair - as well, I'm sure, as lots of lovely families too).
I think the most important thing is that you feel comfortable and happy doing the work you're asked for the compensation you're getting.
I don't have an au pair, never have (as yet) but I do think he probably is taking the p*ss a bit - as someone said, men can be a bit happier to do that than mums! :D I personally normally go the other way, making sure my house is really tidy before the cleaner comes and not asking her to do the annoying bits like moving our massive heavy sofa to clean under it which I do myself! My husband thinks I'm mental!
I think he's probably going to push you as far as he can. Looking at it from the other side, I suspect your employers feel that they can ask you to do all this cleaning as they are paying you 50% more than the expected compensation for the same amount of hours (you don't seem to be doing more than the 35 hours that are expected of an au pair).
You need to feel comfortable in the place that you're living and it sounds like you're not so if you're not comfortable, you should have a word with them. You could always try and negotiate £100 pay for primarily childcare and light house work, which would give them £50 to get a cleaner each week. And if they don't change then you should move, knowing that you may find yourself in a similar situation with less wages (unfortunately I expect there are lots of families who expect too much of their au pair - as well, I'm sure, as lots of lovely families too).