my au pair family taking advantage

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dutchbicycle
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my au pair family taking advantage

Postby dutchbicycle » Wed Oct 20, 2021 3:32 pm

I am a live in au air plus.
I work 2 full days and on these days I look after the little girl aged three and 3 half. On the other 3 days I work half days and the little girl goes to nursery.
Before I started it was explained to me that I would be asked to do some light chores when the daughter was at nursery but not too much as they had a cleaner but actually I am doing all of the cleaning there is no cleaner. I also do all of the washing.
Yesterday the husband asked if I could empty the garden shed. I feel that this isn't my job?
I am paid £150 each week and I know that this is generous as I have my board and lodging and I don't want to seem ungrateful but other au pairs don's seem to be doing any of these things and I feel that the family especially the husband is taking advantage. Would it be rude if I complained?
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handbagsatdawn
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Re: my au pair family taking advantage

Postby handbagsatdawn » Thu Oct 21, 2021 4:48 pm

hello dutchbicycle, I would say that they are absolutely taking advantage. We had an au pair for a while and I would never have dreamed of asking her to do all of the washing or to empty a shed.
 Ask if you can have a day off as you have been doing way more hours than contracted. Good luck.
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Buddybear
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Re: my au pair family taking advantage

Postby Buddybear » Fri Oct 22, 2021 4:24 pm

Hi DutchBicycle.  I agree with the previous poster that they are taking advantage of you  I have never had an au pair but my understanding is an au pair is 'an extra pair of hands' who is normally a young person who wants to experience living in another country and to learn the language etc.. i.e. not a housekeeper/cleaner or a nanny. I have unfortunately seen a few au pairs experience similar situations and so I would suggest you raise this initially with the family and then potentially look elsewhere if things don't improve.  There are some lovely families locally who would treat you well.  
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piper_halliwell
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Re: my au pair family taking advantage

Postby piper_halliwell » Mon Oct 25, 2021 5:54 am

They are definitely taking advantage of you - agreed! £150 is not all that generous considering all the work you do. Two full days and 3 half days but on the half days you have to do this and that while the child is at nursery… that doesn’t sound like a half day to me at all!!! So you actually work pretty much all day long.
Talk to them and if things don’t improve, look for another family.
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Needcoffeenow
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Re: my au pair family taking advantage

Postby Needcoffeenow » Mon Oct 25, 2021 8:07 am

I agree with the previous posters. There are guidelines on the government website stating what an au pair can expect and there is also a website giving information to au pairs in the UK.
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dudette
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Re: my au pair family taking advantage

Postby dudette » Mon Oct 25, 2021 8:20 am

Sounds like they just hired you as a cheap housekeeper/nanny. The going rate for a life-in housekeeper is about £400-500 a week so at £150 you are most definitely being underpaid. And to be honest they’re cheating the system. I think you should think about finding another family who will treat you fairly.
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AA London
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Re: my au pair family taking advantage

Postby AA London » Mon Oct 25, 2021 9:49 am

I think the hours you are doing to look after the little girl is enough work for £150 plus board and lodging. We last had au pairs quite a few years ago and would pay that for them to look after our daughter taking her to school and picking her up plus occasional babysitting but we also had a cleaner. I think you just need to have an open conversation with the parents and then if they think what they are asking is fair you could look for another family. It seems they are pushing the boundaries and if you are not honest now then it will continue. If they are happy with you and their daughter is happy then it is in their interest for you to be happy and stay.
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