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Original poster

Should I expect an au pair to look after sick children?

27 replies

Woolfiemum · 27/01/2013 11:10

Am I being unreasonable? My husband and I both work full time and our au pair works 4 - 5 hours a day, dropping the children at school and then picking up and looking after until around 6 each evening.

Last week 2 of the children were ill, on different days, and we asked if she would look after them during the day for the hours when my husband couldn't (he works from home but I'm in a pressured office environment where it's really frowned upon to take time off)

We felt on the one hand, the children come first so her language school was a lower priority (she didn't want to miss lessons), and we checked with her that she would not lose any money as she would be able to make up the sessions at a later stage - she said that wasn't a problem.

She was clearly unwilling but she did miss the sessions to look after the kids and I feel really conflicted about it... were we unreasonable?

They will almost certainly need another day or two off school. Should I take leave? On the one hand I really feel I should, especially if they are both off ill; as their mum it's important that I'm there for them. Plus I don't want to alienate the au pair to the extent that she leaves!!

Any advice about usual protocol gratefully received

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fraktion · 27/01/2013 13:04

No it's not reasonable or normal to expect it. She is here to take language lessons and improve her English, not primarily to take care of the children or be 24hr back up care for you. If you want that level of cover you have to pay for it and that's nanny territory. It's also likely that she didn't have the confidence or experience to handle sick children.

In short, yes you should take leave or pay a temp emergency nanny seeing as she's unwilling. Another AP might be ok with it but unless you've spelt it out very clearly in correspondence and the contract it isn't reasonable to insist.

Many people do ask their au pairs and pay an additional amount as overtime, which is often around minimum wage per hour, and puts you into operating PAYE territory.

Speaking as an ex EFL teacher missing a session, even if she can make it up, might be the difference between understanding a fundamental concept and bedding in a serious error, especially if they're in the middle of something tricky. The teacher will continue with the series of lessons and your AP will have to do extra to catch up. It's not necessarily a question of money.

Lonecatwithkitten · 27/01/2013 12:51

I had this covered in my contracts and provided additional pay in these circumstances.

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