Think my au pair is being taken advantage of :-(

[anniemouse]

I have a nice au pair who is honest and kind. My au pair wanted find some extra work in her spare time and in order to help I put her in touch with a friend of mine who wanted some help with the housework, cleaning and childcare over the weekend. Friend of mine agreed to pay her a fixed amount for the work which my au pair agreed to. However as no set hours were agreed, my friend had her there for a long time which meant my au pair was working for approx £5 per hour. My friend wants my au pair to work every weekend now, but I can't help thinking that my au pair is being taken advantage of, as a cleaner would get almost double this. On one hand I think I should stay out of it - after all it is between my friend and my AP, and I guess my AP is happy that she is at least earning something extra - but another hand I feel uncomfortable about it all. Am I worrying about it too much? Should I just leave them to it, or should I say anything to my ap??

Hi Anniemouse, I operate a fixed rate for babysitters and the hours change depending on how long I am out. I like this and they do too so we each know what it will cost. If they need to be away for a certain time, they tell me and I factor this in to my going out- but pay the same. So for instance, if they babysit on a week night, it may be 2 hours but they get the same as a weekend when it could be 4 or 5. I am upfront about it and check with them to see if it is ok every so often.
So I suggest you leave this arrangement a little longer and see if the fixed rate works for both parties. It may be first time it all took longer and I would give it a few sessions before making a decision.

I should clarify that with the arrangement is is more cleaning and household chores than babysitting - which is what really concerns me as in our area cleaners end up earning more than childminders and babysitters.

There have been threads on here before about cleaners earning more than childcare providers.

I'd link to them but i'm not sure i'd be able to find them and don't really have time at the minute, but maybe someone will.

However, the overall consensus (I think!) was that cleaners tend to be paid more per hour because it's for fewer hours.

How old is she?

She's 24 - so I believe the min wage is around £5.50

£5.80 I think.

Is she paid cash?

Around our area cleaners charge between £8-£10 per hour and babysitters between £6.50 and £8 - hence what concerns me is that she is paid far less than the going rate for either of the jobs.

Yes - she is paid cash as she doesn't have a UK bank account

I would have a chat with the au pair and make sure she knows that she is free to keep or reject the job. I wouldn't want her to feel she is obligated because the other mum is my friend. I would also make it clear to friend that the arrangement is between her and au pair and if anything does go pare shaped I don't want to be part of it.

Make sure your au pair knows she has a right to a weekend off if she wants it.

You might also introduce your au pair to other friends in need, creating a bit of choice for her.

My view is the same as Strix. Make sure your au pair knows that it is ok to say NO, that she doesn't have to this other work due to it being a friend of yours.

How do you know your friend wants your au-pair to work for her every weekend? Is that something your au-pair has mentioned to you?

If your friend has told you, rather than your au-pair, then how about dropping into conversations with your au-pair with regard to things like: what are your plans for the weekend, are you meeting up with your friends?
Then when she says she is working, you could say something like... oh I hope you don't do too much work, you need some time with your friends / see around the city.
Thus potentially the discussion could go on to how your au-pair needn't feel obligated to do whatever your friend says because you introduced them... that it is OK for your au-pair to turn down the work (though it may risk not then having any work from that friend).