Advice about au pair, contracts etc

[emeraldgirl1]

Technically speaking I am not hiring an au pair as she will not be live in but describing her this way for purposes of thread title!!

Actually I am trying to hire what I guess you would call a daytime babysitter who will also do a bit of v light housework (just tidying, no cleaning at all) and laundry/ironing.

I have a couple of nice sounding girls who I am about to interview and am just starting to think about pay, contract etc.

I was planning to offer £10 per hour for three hours, three mornings a week, so £90 in total per week. Does that sound ok for zone 3, london?

Also I think I only need to register as an employer if I pay more than £109 per week, is that right? I want to do everything by the book but I don't want the hassle of being 'an employer' if I don't need to be!

But do I need insurance?

I am planning to pay for whoever I hire to do first aid, is that a good idea (childcare will not be sole charge but it is a young baby, 8m)?

Do I need a contract, and if so how is it enforceable?! Is a month notice period reasonable?

Also finally, wwyd: one of the girls (my favourite, she sounds lovely) is actually looking for a live-in au pair role but that's not something we are able to offer. I guess I don't want to go to all the trouble of her and DD bonding etc only to find she then finds a live in role and hasn't got time for the part time job with us anymore. Obviously I will discuss this when I meet her! But can anyone give advice as to whether I am right to wonder about this and think that maybe it would be better jot to hire her?

Thanks anyone!!!

If it is their ONLY job then at that pay rate you don't have to register but if they already have a job you will, though there may not be much, if anything in terms of deductions at that pay figure. agree it as a gross wage.

Employers liability insurance may be part of your home contents insurance.

Them knowing some first aid is useful, nice of you to offer to pay for that.

Yes, do a contract so it spells out the terms of the arrangement, such as gross pay, hours per week, notice period, holiday entitlement, expected duties, reasons for instant dismissal. Would be as enforceable as any contract is, which in reality can be hard. The benefit is that it gives you reason to dismiss them if they do something you consider is gross misconduct, such as smoking during working hours, theft.

Mothers Help may be a job title to use, as the role is not sole care of children and involves housework.

Thanks v much cindy!

Any thoughts at all on the issue of the girl who really wants a live-in job...? Or do you think that if I really like her I should take the risk and just hope she sticks with us?!

What hours do you need? It may be that your hours are during the school day and if she gets a classic au pair job with before/after school it'll work really well. Except her new employers will then need to operate PAYE!

You do need to go through the process of employing them properly because otherwise you end up with a nebulous arrangement where a contract technically exists bit they have a lot of hold over you because you've not done what the law requires or you disagree over something and there are no clear records of what you agreed at the start if you ever did. A month is a fairly standard amount of notice. Difficult to enforce but at least it sets out the expectation.

As for employer's liability it's not worth not having. If she trips and breaks her leg on your stairs or burbs herself on the iron then you're liable and you need to protect yourself against that. I'd also consider asking your mothers help I get their own insurance to cover them against any kind of negligence regarding your DC.

Thanks nom de clavier!
will check out whether our contents insurance covers us.
If she were to get another job AFTER she has taken our job, taking her over the threshold, would we need to register as employers then, or would it only be the second employer?
Will decide which mother's help to go for and then try to get something official agreed!