AP time off

[MuffinToptheMule]

I was just wondering what you do if your AP wants time off. Do you give her the time off and not pay her or pay her and she has to make the time up at another point. Or do you not allow time off?

The idea of AP as an exchange program is outdated and based on an expired treaty from 1972. For EU nationals the freedom to work anywhere in the EU is the relevant legislatiion.

Au pairs are also subject to the working time directive (including four weeks paid holiday) and the minimum wage. HOwever, board and accomodation count towards the minimum wage.

There was a thread on here a couple of months ago as to what was the true cost of an AP, the general conclusion was by the time you add to pockect money the board accomodation and extras (in my case the most expensive are use of mobile and car) they are effectively paid somewhat above minimum wage.

And if we are such evil people mal-treating these poor innocents why are there so many that are so eager to take up this offer of exploitation?

'... and why they are so eager to take the offer?'

Erm because they don't know how is going to be.

And if it is so nice then how come most of them are leaving with tears after 2 or 3 months?

Most of them aren't, the nature of this forum i speople only come on here when they have problems they are asking for help with.

I've posted on here before, asking what I am in terms of job title. I am definitely not a nanny. Some people say mother's help others say AP. The terms are actually not at all helpful. In regards to my role, I am an AP. How far do you have to move to be an AP? I am from London but I AP in Aberdeen, however, I didn't come here to AP specifically, but to study.

Was I aware of the conditions before I moved in?

Yes and no.
Yes because I knew the family well, was used to the children and their routines, knew what my room would look like etc.

No because I didn't realise how the relationship between myself and my employers would change. To be perfectly honest it has gone from me working for them to almost me being owned by them. I also find this is the attitude of other parents who make comments such as 'babysitting on tap'.

I don't know how to bring this up with my host mum. If I upset her, will I lose my job and therefore my accommodation?

Look for another job.

I am due to graduate in July. I am leaving this job in June. I don't honestly know where I would find the time to find new accommodation and a job and revise and go to my classes and sort out my graduate job and write my dissertation.

I'll just stick it out.

As an aside, whilst some APs are treated unkindly by their host family, I know there are many others that are welcomed and treated with love. I think parents should receive a warning when looking for APs. Something along the lines of the RSPCA "Dog's are for life, not just for christmas." "APs are for the whole year round, not just when you want them to be there."

Okay that slogan was rubbish. I will definitely not be going into advertising.

Muffin,
these phrases are very misleading indeed. 'babysitting on tap', 'helping hand on weekends', 'part of the family', 'allowing' the au-pair to go with the family on hols=meaning to work 12 hrs a day on hols, etc etc

I truly wish you good luck with the job and with your studies

if its any consolation you can come and ap for us in brisbane! our last ap left with 3 days notice just when i had taken a weeks holiday for her on short notice so she could have a weeks paid leave to go out in the city and get p##sed! she just forgot to tell me till after she had been paid that she wasnt coimng back..but still i think i will happily give any other ap holidays paid when it suits them!

Ok, so the AP treaty is out of date, but it was a good basis for how to treat an AP. It really isn't hard to understand to how to treat a member of your family {albeit a temporary one}
I don't understand your situation Muffin tbh. Do you have a contract? How many hours are you meant to be working?When you reach those hours you need to tell your HM that you're into overtime. Why did you accept £55 pocket money? Are you doing less than 25 hours a week?

Muffin I think you are pretty hard done by. Our current AP is paid £65 - ok not a fortune, but as recommended by the agency - and she is here for approx 6 months. We paid her when she went home at Christmas (for 2.5 weeks) and when she was ill (obviously), and we will give her a weeks extra when she finishes.

We don't always give loads of notice of nights out - but then we don't have more than 2 a week. We would normally put children to bed on these nights anyway (certainly more than 50% of the time).

I can see how this situation arises. When I was 18, some 20 years ago when APs were paid about £25 a week, I went for 2 weeks to France adn got £50 total. Fine and dandy if you ignore the 8am - 9pm days. I went back the next year and got another £50 - only I worked for 6 weeks! I am a bit mroe assertive these days!

Good luck Muffin - I think you should have a chat with your family.

Muffin, I think you are in a stronger position than you realise. Your host Mum would struggle to find a new "AP" who does all that you do, for the money she gives you. Plus, she would have to train the newbie to your standards, and they wouldn't know the DCs (who would all be wailing "We want Muffin back!") If she has any sense, she would think very seriously about how inconvenienced SHE would be if she gave you notice before your exams.

Best of luck in them! How is the demand for anthropologists these days?

Not very high. I'm a joint honours student. Anthropology and Linguistics. The main thing I have learnt from my course is that I'm not very fond of anthropologists.