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!.

Because Val this is complete exploitation of the young people who are applying for these jobs.

Oh, and I am commuting home whilst DD is no doubt enjoying her tea provided by people who are paid a living wage.

Yes Gobbo

val - is is James or Alexandra telling you to post that?

val seems a tad upset.

Baby, noone is forcing them, it is a contract between two consenting adult sides.

val

these are the ONLY people I can legitimately bitch about

PLEASE

Gobbo, yes, they are paying me to post this, 1p a minute, hahahahaaaa. Get a grip, ladies. Or maybe ... 'ladies' ;)

val - it doesn't matter if anyone is forcing them or not although the exploitation point is valid. These are not two equal contracting parties

This is not appropriate childcare for the age ranges and numbers of children required. It is not in the children's best interests and could possibly be dangerous and, in some cases, illegal as au pairs cannot have sole charge of such young children. End off.

1p a minute? That seems awfully generous. That's 60p an hour. Do you have 59p deducted though for use of wifi and your attic conversion deducted?

It's only valid if both parties understand what they're getting into. That's questionable when you're dealing with wealthy, influential and well-informed 30/40sobethibgs in one side who live in the country and know the system and a vulnerable late teens/early 20s within limited Emglush and knowledge of the deal on the other.

Mid-twenties isn't unusual though when you consider many countries have 5 year degree courses and then young people discover they can't find a job or need the language skills. We've had 2 au pairs, both mid-twenties and professionally qualified, who needed the language skills and felt being an au pair was a good way to get that.

There's unfortunately very little clear legislation around employing au pairs so people take the piss when really an au pair is, in most cases, fully protected under employment law. The au pairs often don't know that though :(

Oh c'mon you can't honestly believe that these girls are being treated fairly. Exploiting their need/want to come to the UK with the hope of further opportunities.

I am devastated at that 'ladies' you threw in so casually.

night

I feel a teensy bit sorry for that one, she is a desperate single mother

she wont get anyone though, jesus £135 for when she travels, fuck OFF!

I'm back... phew,

DD is eating her supper if that's ok with you Val. (or do I mean the bitter au pair who is kicking herself because got the job with James and Alexandra, with her own entrance and everything)

Just read the French one, may I point out that there are several bad errors in that French woman's French. (Aside from the dreadful 'Franglais' shite)

Right, excuse me...

I definatly don't want to work for the last lady. I felt tired reading ALL THE CAPITAL LETTERS!

Would she seriously leave her children all week with this au pair for £135?

It cost 40 quid for 8am till 6pm for a nursery here. So that's an extra £75 a week without even factoring in the overnight aspect. I sympatise that she's a single parent but it's a bit much to expect for £135.

I read an article in the Sunday recently about newly retired and/or divorced women with grown up DC taking au pair jobs - jollies with children, nice house you neither have to pay for nor typically clean, cash and daytimes for tennis/museums, what's not to like?

Those writing up PhDs like au pair jobs too once their finance dries up: again, free board and lodging, five or six hours a day uninterrupted for writing up.

The trouble with many of these ads though, is there is no spare time as families want care for under 3s.

Well, I am sorry she is a lone parent (I am recently too) but that is crazy, to expect (and be able to sleep at night) to leave your children alone for a WHOLE WEEK once a month for 135 pounds a week?

I would be so scared, doubtless she is too - but I just, honestly, would not do it.

I feel a bit sorry for her too on the single mother front. However, I'm also a single mother, currently on a 3 month break but before that I did 4 months of 12 hour days 5 days a week. At no point did I resort to leaving DD with a badly paid young woman for extended periods of time, it was a bit of a faff to organise but it worked out very well. My issue isn't so much with what she's asking, it's what she's offering in the way of payment. Not to mention excessive use of capital letters. That in itself is a crime.

It's I'd shocking.

Val do you feel the same about other jobs'

With prostitution the women know what their 'job' is, they know they get paid for having sex. So is that right. ( extreme example I know)

To me it is exploiting young women.