To think that this advert for an live in au pair is grossly underpaid?

[salsmum]

I was just browsing on a job site and this advert came to my attention, AIBU to think that this is asking an awful lot of a potential au pair for £80 a week? and I thought carers were underpaid!.

They'll probably ignore it on the basis that I'm some provincial type who doesn't understand life in the big metropolis

Nothing wrong with that,it's the going rate for an au pair plus in London, certainly in this part where they are - I can even tell the school the older child is at.

When I had au pairs 15 years ago,I wold also pay their course fees, travel card and payg mobile. The three wonderful au pairs that I had also had plenty of babysitting jobs/bar jobs locally thus supplementing their income. They rarely did more than 3 hours childcare during the day and, TBF, I think the job description covers everything but is not necessarily a daily duty list.

I just read it, and can't believe the bit about you need to be out of the house or in your room . They want a slave.

What did you say Gobbo? "Look up 'Nanny' in the dictionary, because that's what you need rather than an au pair".

Pretty depressing when you think about some of the young women in Spain or somewhere that might be forced into shit terms like this because of the crippling unemployment in their own country; arriving here, alone, and confined to a bedroom when they aren't working. And then those families think they're alright because of the number of applicants they had.

And I'd imagine both families do know each other as their children are clearly in the same nursery class...

Though I've just seen the bit about be out or in your room which is disgusting. We are still very much in touch with our lovely au pairs, they really were part of our family and we are all very fond of them, with my older DC visiting them at times.

I just drew their attention to this thread and asked them to pay for some proper, safe, childcare.

I felt you had all expressed the various points better than I could

For the avoidance of doubt, I have no problem with the concept of au pairs. But only if they are not exploited and also as long as the needs of very little children are taken into account. So fine to pick up an 8 and a 10 year old from school, chat to them a bit in native language and feed them an early tea. Not to be left in sole charge of a 3 year old and a 1 year old for a minimum of 9 feckin hours a day.

I agree Gobbolino, I'd not read the second ad when I posted - they are seriously taking the piss. I certainly wouldn't want my 18 or 19 year old daughters working for a family like that.

How have you worked out they are in the same nursery class Fuck - intrigued.....

I agree, they need a Nanny and not an Au-Pair. That whole "be in your room or out of the house" statement is very cold too. It could be that they are not British though and have different experiences and expectations as a result.

This is how the government defines an au pair, working around 30 hours a week including extra baby sitting etc.

Expecting 35 hours a week plus another couple of evening (probably another 7 hours a week), means that the couple concerned are really over-stepping what should be reasonably expected of an au pair. Also, expecting her to hide in her room is hardly treating her 'on a par' with the family or giving her a chance to live as part of the family and experience the family culture.

The sweatshirts... I'd recognise them anywhere as my son was in that nursery class in 2000/2001.

Is anyone stupid enough to take up this kind of placement? I can't imagine either of those families manage to keep an au pair for long.

I'm a single parent to an 8 year old, recently moved several hours away from my friends and family and work long days so I do understand the need for childcare. I'm very fortunate that DD is a dance obsessive and happily left in ballet, tap etc for a couple of hours after school, so we work round it that way. But if she wasn't, there is absolutely no way I would be prepared to leave her with a teenager with potentially limited English language and childcare experience. I also wouldn't like the idea of someone else living in my house, but that's another issue.

Where is the incentive to do a good job when there are so many families looking for au pairs and the pay is so dire?

They are wearing the same uniform gobbo !

I think the second family are worse. 45 hours a week PLUS some weekends.

I thought it was illegal to have an 'au pair' to look after a child under a certain age? 3, I think.

These families are self entitled twats and the reason I moved away from Fulham.

'Let's have some children and a dog and then employ someone to work for 80 quid a week being responsible for all of them'

'But - they are lucky, they are living in our 'posh' (ish, not really) house and should be grateful, but must stay in their room when not working'

'Meanwhile, we are confident our children and dog are getting the best care.'

As a side point: as I mentioned before I work full time and am a single parent, so I completely understand that some families do have to rely on childcare. But the second family wants their to go on family weekends away and holidays with them. What on earth is the point of having children if you're going to have someone else look after them even when you're not working and with them yourself?

Sorry! Sorry! Just looked at the photos more closely now

Good Lord - people traffickers have a ready made market by away if that nursery!

They are trying to exploit people and should be absolutely ashamed of themselves. Hopefully no unfortunate poor girl is suckered in by these fuckers.

I really hope the wife from the first couple reads Mumsnet & sees this link.

calypso - if these advertisers come on this thread, this will be the bit that stings the most:

they are living in our 'posh' (ish, not really) house. Guaranteed

I'm sure whatever unfortunate slave au pair is currently in situ will probably be made to read out this thread while the employers recline on a chaise longue and dictate their response.

nightingale yes, as well as 45 hours a week and some weekends, they want someone to take their children off them on HOLIDAY!

It is hardly Downton Abbey, their pile, is it?

The photo is probably so the wife can vet their attractivness!