Does anybody employ an Au Pair?
Discussion
You could try a few specialist agencies, I think Greycoat Placements and Marques of Distinction were used by a few old employers a while back but not sure if their still going (full house staff/chauffeurs/security/groundskeepers etc) ££££ though!
Or nip to tesco and take a look at 'Lady' magazine, there's usually a few ads in there from this type of agency or private individuals. Worth a look anyway
Or nip to tesco and take a look at 'Lady' magazine, there's usually a few ads in there from this type of agency or private individuals. Worth a look anyway
ClaphamGT3 said:
We have had four au pairs over the years. Two were excellent, one was beyond excellent and one was a bit of a challenge - what do you want to know specifically?
Many thanks for the reply! Specific questions would be:-What hours did yours work?
Any good ground rules? Any policy on their friends/ boyfriends?
How long did they stay with your family?
You say you had 4, how did the kids cope with the changing Au Pairs? Our kids are 4 and 6
If you don't mind me asking, how much did you pay them?
Did they drive your car (presumably not the GT3!)
Any advice greatly received, thanks
Edited by Itsallicanafford on Wednesday 18th May 05:45
Itsallicanafford said:
ClaphamGT3 said:
We have had four au pairs over the years. Two were excellent, one was beyond excellent and one was a bit of a challenge - what do you want to know specifically?
Many thanks for the reply! Specific questions would be:-What hours did yours work?
Any good ground rules? Any policy on their friends/ boyfriends?
How long did they stay with your family?
You say you had 4, how did the kids cope with the changing Au Pairs? Our kids are 4 and 6
If you don't mind me asking, how much did you pay them?
Did they drive your car (presumably not the GT3!)
Any advice greatly received, thanks
Edited by Itsallicanafford on Wednesday 18th May 05:45
They worked from 7.30 - 13.00 Monday to Friday and did 1 night of baby sitting per week. We didn't ask them to do any housework beyond keeping the girls playroom tidy and clothes in order as the housekeeper does all the cleaning/laundry/cooking.
We took a treat this as your home - which includes not taking the p*ss - approach. If anything is irritating, deal with it quickly, don't let it stew (2 of ours were live-out)
Each stayed with us for a year. We specifically wanted to rotate annually. As a child, I had the same nanny from birth until I went to prep school at 8, which I don't think is healthy. Our girls loved the goodbye parties for each au pair (and are still in touch with three of them) and looked forward to the new one
We were paying the live-in ones £110-130/week and the last live out one £165/week - you get what you pay for and paying top au pair dollar is loose change to us but gets a totally different calibre of candidate. Julia, our last one was an Australian newly qualified nurse on a gap year before starting her 1st nursing job
We gave them a car of their own, primarily to take the girls to nursery school/school/play-dates/outings etc but for them to use when they weren't working too. Nothing special, just cheap 1.0 Polos/Pug 106/Micra etc
Hope this helps
baldy1926 said:
This is PH i thought everyone had hired help, which is fitting to be with powerfully built company directors
Is it just me or does the phrase 'powerfully built company director' make anyone else think the poster typing it (not baldy specifically, just anyone using it as a derogatory term) has a chip on their shoulder about success and wealth? Edited by foxsasha on Wednesday 18th May 12:47
Some of my friends have been nannies / au pairs. Mostly live in and mostly complaining about their nights off being ruined by thoughtlessness on behalf of their employers.
Bear in mind that they report back to their agencies and you will find it increasingly difficult to get decent help if you have a lousy reputation.
Also all agree that changing jobs annually stopped them from getting too attached to their charges.
Things that attract this sort of girl:-
Somewhere close for their horse.
The opportunity to accompany the family skiing / to the Caribbean.
Living in SW1
Having their own flat as oppose to just a room.
Bear in mind that they report back to their agencies and you will find it increasingly difficult to get decent help if you have a lousy reputation.
Also all agree that changing jobs annually stopped them from getting too attached to their charges.
Things that attract this sort of girl:-
Somewhere close for their horse.
The opportunity to accompany the family skiing / to the Caribbean.
Living in SW1
Having their own flat as oppose to just a room.
ClaphamGT3 said:
Hi
They worked from 7.30 - 13.00 Monday to Friday and did 1 night of baby sitting per week. We didn't ask them to do any housework beyond keeping the girls playroom tidy and clothes in order as the housekeeper does all the cleaning/laundry/cooking.
We took a treat this as your home - which includes not taking the p*ss - approach. If anything is irritating, deal with it quickly, don't let it stew (2 of ours were live-out)
Each stayed with us for a year. We specifically wanted to rotate annually. As a child, I had the same nanny from birth until I went to prep school at 8, which I don't think is healthy. Our girls loved the goodbye parties for each au pair (and are still in touch with three of them) and looked forward to the new one
We were paying the live-in ones £110-130/week and the last live out one £165/week - you get what you pay for and paying top au pair dollar is loose change to us but gets a totally different calibre of candidate. Julia, our last one was an Australian newly qualified nurse on a gap year before starting her 1st nursing job
We gave them a car of their own, primarily to take the girls to nursery school/school/play-dates/outings etc but for them to use when they weren't working too. Nothing special, just cheap 1.0 Polos/Pug 106/Micra etc
Hope this helps
Chap, this is great, thanks very much for taking the time to reply. I think this is all broadly inline with what i was expecting, i even have a spare 106 hanging around (although its a Rallye, lowered, running semi-slicks and a 3inch pug sport They worked from 7.30 - 13.00 Monday to Friday and did 1 night of baby sitting per week. We didn't ask them to do any housework beyond keeping the girls playroom tidy and clothes in order as the housekeeper does all the cleaning/laundry/cooking.
We took a treat this as your home - which includes not taking the p*ss - approach. If anything is irritating, deal with it quickly, don't let it stew (2 of ours were live-out)
Each stayed with us for a year. We specifically wanted to rotate annually. As a child, I had the same nanny from birth until I went to prep school at 8, which I don't think is healthy. Our girls loved the goodbye parties for each au pair (and are still in touch with three of them) and looked forward to the new one
We were paying the live-in ones £110-130/week and the last live out one £165/week - you get what you pay for and paying top au pair dollar is loose change to us but gets a totally different calibre of candidate. Julia, our last one was an Australian newly qualified nurse on a gap year before starting her 1st nursing job
We gave them a car of their own, primarily to take the girls to nursery school/school/play-dates/outings etc but for them to use when they weren't working too. Nothing special, just cheap 1.0 Polos/Pug 106/Micra etc
Hope this helps
).I like the idea of a yearly turn-around Good bye party and keeping in touch.
Also, the cost of a cleaner will be more than offset by the reduction in cost of a UK based nanny/ child minder...
...this might just work.
My brother-in-law's partner is an Au Pair.
She works afternoons, is supplied a car and is paid quite well for what the time she spends with them. I don't think it involves very much, except for babysit every day until the parents get home from work and maybe a bit of cleaning. Sometimes she'll work a weekend day if required and will accompany the family on holiday.
Have to be honest, when my sister did it, she was bored and filling a gap and so is this other girl. She doesn't know what she wants to do despite being 31!!
She works afternoons, is supplied a car and is paid quite well for what the time she spends with them. I don't think it involves very much, except for babysit every day until the parents get home from work and maybe a bit of cleaning. Sometimes she'll work a weekend day if required and will accompany the family on holiday.
Have to be honest, when my sister did it, she was bored and filling a gap and so is this other girl. She doesn't know what she wants to do despite being 31!!
foxsasha said:
Is it just me or does anyone else think the phrase 'powerfully built company director' make anyone else think the poster typing it (not baldy specifically, just anyone using it as a derogatory term) has a chip on their shoulder about success and wealth?
It's a call out on something people used to say. The problem is many people are full of s
t and use 'I'm a company director' as some kind of brag, to give off the impression they headed up a Fortune 500 company when really they just fell foul or IR35 and their leased Golf doesnt impress others as much as themselves. The powerfully built, I think came around the same time as the company directors being a Krav Magna expert with a goatee. Usually their right forearm has more muscles than their left from being single a while
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