Au-Pair Guide For Families Part 1

Au-pairs do not sign a contract since the arrangement is an informal one. They must be treated as family members, not employees. They are always a "live-in" help so you must provide them with their own bedroom and food.
An Au-pair has much less responsibility for the welfare of the children then does a nanny and is not normally expected to have sole care of a very young child unless she can prove that she has sufficient experiences.
Au-pairs can stay with the host family different lengths of time. Some do not fulfill their intended length of stay for various reasons, some extend their stay to the maximum; all depends on the way the relationship progresses.

Au-Pair

Au-Pairs should work for no more than 25 hours a week over 5 days, plus two evenings of babysitting. Au-Pairs get paid pocket money of no less than £55 per week . During a school holidays, she/ he can be asked to work more hours. However, extra pocket money must be offered according to the working hours.

Holiday Au-Pairs

Usually come to the UK during June, July and August (sometimes less, e.g. 6 weeks or more--4 months) and often accompany the family on their holiday. Since the children are out of school, there may be less free time than during an academic year and often no chance to study a language (au-pairs are prepared for this). Otherwise, the same rules apply as for ordinary au-pairing.

Au-Pair Plus

Is often required by busy households with two working parents who are often away from home the whole day and / or households with small children. She will be asked to perform a variety of tasks, not only related to the children (housework and/or cooking) and to work longer hours. The average weekly pay is £60-£120 depending on amount and ages of the children and duties required by the family.  She doesn't necessarily have two days off per week.

Pocket Money

Pocket money must be paid weekly. It is not taxable and the au-pair does not pay National Insurance. It is not
acceptable to propose to the au-pair on arrival that pocket money will be paid monthly nor to refuse the au-pair her first week's pocket money. It is not advisable that family pays pocket money in advance. The amount of pocket money should not be (over-all) any less then £2.30 p/hr. Families living in should consider raising this amount to accommodate the "city rates" (higher cost of living--transport, college fees, entertainment etc.).

Free time and Baby-sitting

The au-pair must be given free time daily to study or to pursue other interests. Normally 2 days p.w. should be free, one of which must be SUNDAY. Majority of families give the au-pair weekends off. Au-pair can be asked to baby-sit twice per week for no extra money and this can be on her "day off" (weekend) as long as the arrangement is reasonable and sufficient notice is given. Any extra babysitting should be paid for. 2 weeks of paid holidays per 6 months must be provided.

Duties

The au-pair is there to HELP YOU, not to take over your parental duties or to serve you. A lot of families unfortunately mistake au-pairs for cleaners or personal servants. If the au-pair is at home all day caring for your children and doing housework, try to take over once you come home from work and don't be envious that she is now free and you are not; it's sometimes hard but bare in mind that this life-style is your personal choice, not the au-pair's fault. LIGHT housework is considered to be vacuuming, dusting, loading the washing machine, washing up, ironing for children etc. If they are happy to do so, they can care for your pets. Heavy housework is considered washing windows, scrubbing carpets, cleaning ovens, kitchen cupboards, shoe cupboards and choirs that include moving furniture or heavy lifting. The au-pair can do these only if you employ her for household duties only and she is entirely happy with the "job description", which should be explained in detail in your Family Registration form.