Potential Au Pair requesting longer stay...

[ahorseymum]

Hi,
I'm currently trawling Aupair World for au pairs to help cover this year's school holidays. I have found a lovely girl for Easter but she's not satisfied with just coming to us for a month, she'd rather stay longer for 2 months. I don't mind her coming for longer but when DD is back at school there'll be very little childcare needs. During the holidays she'll be employed as an au pair plus so was thinking of paying her c.£90pw. What do people think about me saying that yes she can stay longer & still help out around the house and maybe do 1 school pickup a week & can I then pay her considerably less pocket money for these weeks say maybe c.£30?

Anyone who has simliar experiences I'd appreciate some advice...

Thanks
Caroline

No experience but why not ask her?
She might use last month to explore and travel around a bit?
Could she babysit for friends to supplement?

I would explain it as you have here - that you don't really need the childcare but are happy for her to stay on for another month in exchange for x hours of housework and a little childcare, but will only be able to offer £30/week after the first month.

Worst she can do is say no!

Her problem is probably that it is not worth her paying £??? to travel to you for just £360 pay - there will hardly be enough left for her to live on (lunch, weekends) let alone have the kind of fun when not working she deserves!

So adding another £120 is probably not going to help a lot, but you can ask.

How many hours do you mean by 'Au Pair Plus'? I wouldn't expect much more than 30 for £90pw (possibly 35 if you are in a really cheap location) otherwise she is not going to be happy when she compares her lot with other APs on £75-80 for 25 hours (would you do 5 extra hours for £10-15?)

Just noticed your name - it might all be reasonable if you are offering an Country Life, riding every day, trips out all expenses paid 3x a week sort of experience and she is ahorseygirl.

We have had au pairs stay on as paying guests while they sort out alternative arrangements.
You could offer her your reduced hours and pay but say you are happy for her to look for another job during the second month - after all many people like to interview in person and if she's available she might be able to secure a summer hols post.

or maybe offer for her to stay the 2mths with the initial mth doing x hrs and then 2nd mth only doing a few hrs with a set total amount and then divide that up into weekly payments for the total time so she has the same amount of money for the whole time??