aupair costs?

Visas, Permits, Passports and Naturalization
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Hi I'm possibly moving in with a family as an aupair. They've asked me to give them an estimate on weekly pay. Can anyone help me with what they feel is a suitable rate?

They want me to do 30 hours a week. Do the house keeping, cook dinner 5 days a week for the whole family, ready the kids for school take them there, pick them up, help with homework and keep them entertained there after, then get them ready for bed. Also take care of there dogs.

Any help on this would be great.

thanks

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What you are describing is definitely NOT an Au-Pair's position (plenty of info around on the Laws and conditions re Au Pairs'), but that of a house-keeper.

Make sure they pay all the legal costs re Insurance, pension, etc. There are many posts on this subject here - perhaps worth a search around previous posts. Bonne chance.

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Rules and regs around Au pair / Nanny

Costs of an aupair

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I have never had an au pair here so have no idea of cost in Switzerland but I did have au pairs when I was living in England. Just to say that I think it's a lot that they are asking you to do. An au pair is supposed to be an extra pair of hands primarily to help with the kids, you;re not a housekeeper and if they want you to do a "housekeeper" role, they cannot just pay you an au pair wage. Just my thoughts! Hope you don't me saying it. Good luck!!

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And now I just saw what Odile wrote! Great minds

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Wow thanks for the prompt reply guys!

I realize it does seem like quite a-lot. And I'm thinking if the price is right that I'm ok with that. What would be a good price for all chores?

I will have a research around though.

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There are new laws re the employment of house employees/domestics, since January 2011 in CH- as there was great concern about so many being employed illegally and without Insurance etc. How good is your French?

www.cheques-emploi.ch

The minimum salary is CHF18.20 - and up to 22 CHF, if you work over 5 hours for the same family (or 25 if less than 5 hours- for cleaners, etc) + insurance and social payments. Clearly cost for your accommodation and food, as living-in, will be deducted.

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Where's William Wilberforce when you need him?

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How many kids and what are the ages ? Have you actually cooked before ? What hours will you be working (sounds like you will work morning/afternoon and have a longer break in the middle of the day).

Au Pairs are not supposed to have sole-charge of the kids. A full time childcare worker earns around 60K per year - 5000chf per month. 42 hours per week, insurance and pension fund paid, proper allowances for sick leave and 4-5 weeks annual leave on full pay.

What does 'housekeeping' involve ?

Assuming 3 children:

Ready for school: 1 hour

Walk to/from school: 1 hour

Housekeeping chores: 2 hours

Cooking Dinner (if you have good skills/experience) 1 hour:

Shopping ? - for what you are going to cook: 30 minutes per day

Pick up from School: 1 hour

Supervise homework: 1 hour

That's already well over your 6 hours per day...

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Thanks for your reply odile. My french is at an intermediate level. I currently live in paris and spent the last 4 and a half months full time at a french language school.

Insurance.. See, obviously need to educate myself a bit more. I'm an EU national and I have a european health insurance card which apparently makes me exempt from paying health insurance. Unless there is any other kind of insurance that i'm missing out.

Really appreciate the help. Making me feel a bit more grounded about all of this.

Yes i've ACTUALLY cooked before. In fact I love cooking otherwise I wouldn't of even considered the role.

It's 2 young boys

As far a I know it's 5 days a week monday to friday in the mornings and afternoons. Not sure about your timing estimates there i.e.the school is apparently 5 minute by car. I havent been told to do any shopping. So essentially you're saying I should be registered for employment as a child carer. I'm not so sure yet as I don't think I will have full responsibilities for the kids.. Will keep on researching

Appreciate your input swisspea

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So, will you be living in the family or living independently ?

It's very frowned upon here that you drive the kids to school - which is why I assumed the time taken to include the kids walking at snail pace, and also your return journey- so you can adapt that one...

If you are cooking, then I'd expect you also to take some role in the shopping...

So, I guess - 1.5 or 2 hours in the morning and 4 hours or so in the afternoons ?

And are you planning on doing language lessons during the daytime, or some other objective ?

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House keeping apparently involves "vacuming, clearing dishes and laundry" . I was told it's 'light house keeping' So I've asked them to be more specific..

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Your EHIC international insurance is only valid in Switzerland if on holiday, and only in an emergency. You have to have Swiss Insurance, from day one but you have 3 months to choose an insurer and organise (back paid to arrival) if you live and are employed here, both health and accident- and it is expensive. So either you need to take this into account when calculating salary.

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Is this a joke? They want an au pair or a slave?

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I will be living in the families home!

I wouldn't want anyone to frown at me! I'm just relaying the details i've been given

Objectives? well, I'm really coming to switzerland as a CELTA qualified english language teacher. I thought it would be nice to settle with a family and really get an idea of swiss life before finding a later on.

Wow thank you so much odile! I really appreciate the help! So I can get swiss insurance under one policy? Covering health and accident. I've heard how expensive this can be. But that's up to the family to sort is it not. Good to know for the future when I find a teaching job

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Essential to realise that health (sickness, tests, ops, etc) and accident are two separate Insurances - many people do not realise this and come a-cropper if sustaining injury. Accident is a relatively cheap add-on btw.

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personally, i'd hold out for a teaching position, then you have a job, a life, free time, etc. taking care of the kids, cleaning, driving around AND living with the family(convenient to be taken advantage of in these situations, i would say) doesn't sound like a real pleasure to take in the swiss life. just mho- but in either case- good luck!

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Appreciate the advice amaraya but It's looking pretty competitive for the english language teaching jobs. Searching for them from afar on the internet isn't very easy!

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Fact is, domestic employees are taken advantage of in droves, because they want the opportunity to work here (or in France, the UK, the US, etc) and get their foot in the door. Many are therefore prepared to work for low pay and often unprotected by Insurance or Social payments, unemployment, etc- to enable this.

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well, as an english teacher i'll tell you there is work here.

just saying that in that kind of a situation, you may not find much to enjoy- or the time and energy to do so. otherwise, i've had friends who had a lot of luck working through agencies where everything was legit and explained. just don't get caught up in the 'just this once' extra work that one can easily fall into when being a live in provider.

and if teaching is your aim- send cv straight to schools, sometimes over and over. best of luck!