Aupair continuing to work at McDonald's

[ScaredOfCorona]

Our aupair works at McDonald's on the weekends. Now, the one she works at seems to be still open for takeaway and delivery.
Can I reasonably ask her to not go from this weekend?
(Tax side of things is covered, it's registered as a second job).

I have 3dc. DH and I both work from home so she will be the only one traveling outside and across London.

I am really not comfortable with it but can't give her the extra money to compensate either

You either need to compensate her or let her go assuming nothing in her contract says she can't hold a second job.

Yes, I think it would be reasonable to ask her. But what will you do if she says no?

Don’t be silly. Unless you pay her extra for her lost McDonald’s hours you have no right to ask her to stop.

There's nothing in the contract and I can't compensate her either. So I suck it up or let her go..

She doesn't really want to go yet. She was planning on staying another 3 or 4 months and them moving to her own room in a shared house and work elsewhere full time.

Are you in the UK?
If so, let her go immediately. Put alternative childcare in place and plan for the pandemic we are in.

No. You either cover the money she would lose or suck it up.

Should add, I am in Ireland, where realistic measures are in place for a pandemic, including social welfare.

Although I suppose it depends on whether you believe this is a pandemic, based on BoJos very individualistic response to the virus, compared to the rest of Europe?

I think it would be deeply unfair to fire her for trying to earn a wage. Presumably you are already paying her peanuts which is why she needs a second job.

I think it’s very reasonable to ask. She is living in your home as part of your family, and it is a second job, and not essential travel. And it’s in London. But there may be a parting of the ways.

Either she isolates properly with you or moves out and stops au pairing I would think. Crossing London to work in MacD's is not on in the current situation.

So the au pair is exposed to enormous numbers of customers per day, Mc Ds serve 3.5 million customers.per day in the UK.
I would not want anyone minding my children with a fraction of that exposure alone, never mind worrying about the second job aspect.
Your priorities are skewed.

Au pairs don’t earn peanuts, not in London, where their “ rent” is paid for, along with bills and food.

Absolutely reasonable as this is meant to be a sum trial exchange rather than you being an employer - so she needs to adjust to your family life in exactly the same way any other member of your family would. So if you would expect your teenage daughter to stop her job at Macdonalds then you can hold your head up high that this is the right decision for your family.

Sorry - that's was meant to say "a cultural exchange"

🤦🤦🤦🤦 this x1000. You think they are working there for fun. You don't pay enough. You don't want your family put at risk ?!?... Well ?

Thanks all. I spoke to her and have offered to compensate for part of what she earns there. I also gave her what advice I would have given my daughter and asked her to talk it over with her family too.
I didn't issue her an ultimatum or give her notice yet. Will sleep on it and talk again tomorrow.

That sounds more than fair. I hope it goes well for you all - we're all making this up as we go along

@Bellyfullofbiscuits - don't be an arse, the OP hasn't even said her pocket money.

Our au pair is applying for a phd (hopefully) in the near future and started doing care work to facilitate this only a few months ago.
Obviously she's now massively in demand as the the agency really needs her as some of the other carers are self-isolating or looking after other family members. She's now a key worker.

We actually now don't need her much as we're both at home, but I feel as though we're helping the corona effect by homing her and paying her pocket money so that she can help older people.

Anyway your au pair too, she is helping to feed people. The only stipulation I put on ours is that she doesn't get public transport. Could one of you drop her off or pick her up? She could then ask to swap to a more convenient location for the following weeks.

@Bellyfullofbiscuits - the majority of au pairs have more spending money than the average wage earner for their group. How many people have £400/month spending money after paying rent, bills and food? Not many I can tell you.