Au pair holiday request and asking for a friend to stay

[Minki]

We have a summer au pair who started with us at the beginning of June and who will be here until the end of August. I told her from the start that we would be away from 28th July to 6th August so she was welcome to take holiday or stay in the house during that time. She then asked if she could take 7 days holiday from 8th - 16th July which was not particularly convenient but I have agreed to and also if she can have a friend come and stay whilst we are on holiday at the end of July. I am firstly wondering if I need to pay her for the time she is on holiday (I was not in fact counting on her taking holiday at all other than the odd day here and there as she is only here for 3 months) and also whether it's reasonable for her friend to come and stay. I did say at the outset no overnight guests etc and am less than keen to have someone I don't know staying in the house whilst we are away. That said, the au pair is very quiet/mature and responsible and has assured me that her friend is the same, and that she has done this with all other families she has au-paired with, so I guess it might be ok. Any thoughts?

Assuming she works 5 days per week during the 3 months she is with you at statuatory holiday rates she is entitiled to 6.99 days holiday. You can not round down so this would give her 7 days paid holiday.
While you are away will you still expect her to do some jobs about the house, feed pets etc, if so she is not on holiday.
I only let friends who I have already meet stay so maybe if you got a chance to meet the friend.

If she's had friends to stay at other places, then ask if you can speak to a couple of previous employers?

I can understand your ooginess at not wanting strangers in your house while you aren't there, but I don't think the au pair is being unreasonable by asking.

If you told her in advance that you did not have overnight guests, then it is cheeky of her to ask now that she is working for you. I think she is guessing that it will be difficult for you to refuse but not nice of her to put you on the spot. Similarly with holidays, she is entitled to them (or you could pay her for them at the end) but given that she is only with you for three months, you could refuse this particular time on the basis that she has not given you enough notice or it is not convenient for you - presumably you are using her mostly for before/after-school care at that point? It might have been better to specify in the contract that her holidays had to be taken during the time that you were away.

2 weeks holiday in 3mths is a lot and allowance would be rounded to 7days. So assume 5 when you are away and 2 when she goes and other 3 not paid

Being in someone's else's house is lonely if everyone else is away. Maybe talk to her ex families

You either trust her or you don't. If you trust her then trust her to have someone Suitable in your house

Saying that you did say no friends in the beginning so you are quite within your rights to say no

Do you have any family or friends nearby that could keep an eye on her and the house while you're away?

We have, on occasion, allowed our APs to do this - although not all of them - but my parents live nearby and so they pop in and check.