And I assume it's gross... because she mentions the taxes afterwards... people normally quote gross, correct? I guess I should clarify that.
I already have a place to live, because I will be living with my boyfriend. That's the main reason I am looking for a live-out position (so that I can help him pay the rent).
With this nanny thing it really depends... they even put into my contract the net one... so better find out! My family will pay all the taxes for me (need to pay for my health insurance myself tho)! So I don't know either what they think under this we/us thing, that what you will have to pay... what them... plus my family pays for the public transport ticket. They provided me the place to stay with almost all things I need for myself plus they pay for all the bills that comes with the appartment. So I couldn't compare my salary with your offer!
But I got also the other offer that was totally live out plus I should have had to use my own car + own gas to pick up the kids from school (wouldn't need to take them to school) and the offer was 4200chf gross (But it included as I said the fact that I had a car)! And it really wasn't so much work to do...
There are really so different offers "flying around"!
Thanks for sharing Trikk! I guess there are a LOT of things to take into account... that is nice that they pay for your transportation! Can I ask how you found your family?
Just from the homepage www.greataupair.com (also got the au-pair offers there with their typical salary)! I really don't know if there are better ways for searching them... the other offer I got from www.liliput.ch . I haven't tried the agencies!
Your plus is that you are a native english speaker!
Are the parents both away all day?
That's the same place I found this family. I had some interest from a person on liliput as well, but they never got back to me... likely scared them away when I said I would have to apply for a work permit.
I thought the native English skills would help me as well, but apparently there a lot of other native English speakers applying for nanny jobs.
Yes, both parents are away all day.
If the salary of CHF2,500 is gross for a live out position I would renegociate if I was you. That is too low for a nanny position in my opinion.
This is far, far too low for a live-out. I was talking to someone about watching our child full-time a few years ago, and at 40+ hour weeks it would have been around 4600/month. Too much for us so we didn't do it, but they are seriously low-balling you in my opinion (I can't believe I just said that because I also hate paying CH prices for anything!! If it was live-in, I think it would be a different story. How badly do you want this particular job? I also mentioned the "slavery" part -- it was slightly in jest, but seriously, it is hard work taking care of kids....and with laundry, household work, etc....and for such little money???
Thank you for your input! I thought it was too low, but wanted some confirmation from people who live there and know the standards. I responded to her offer with this email:
"Dear ___,
To be honest, my salary expectations are higher than 2,500/month, especially considering that it would be 50 hours/week. I read that the average salary for a na nny in Switzerland is between 3,500-4,500/month. And I found a source with recommended wages for nannies:
Monthly Salary
(from: http://www.familyservice.ch/kin/lohn...lung_kb_en.pdf )
Please let me know what your feelings are on this."
To which she responded with this:
" ... I appreciate your honest - actually this is the most important thing for me when I meet new people - that he is trustable and honest, like me.
I read all 3 emails and can say the following –
My current nanny and the one before her were both earned Sfr 2,500 per month. However, it doesn’t mean that you will earn the same (in case we are both happy with each other). However, I know many families with nannies and the highest salary that I know is Sfr 3,500. I don’t say you do not deserve more then that, but for this kind of position it is too high.
I know what we as a family can offer to our nanny beside salary – we are very nice and easy going family. The most important thing for us is honest and confidence. You can speak with my previous nanny and I am sure she will tell you that is was very nice to work for us (she just came last week to visit the kids because she was missing them a lot after only 3 weeks J ). We respect any person and open to any kind of people. >From my impression you are the same type of person.
My best offer is Sfr 3,000 per month – although it is less then what are expected, unfortunately I cannot offer you more then that (Yesterday we have interviewed a very sweet candidate with work permit and experience and she is happy with this salary).
Please let me know your thoughts.
Have a nice day"
So now I have to decide if I want to settle for this or keep looking... must ask myself how badly I need this job. She mentioned they interviewed somebody else as well, so the decision may be made for me. Or perhaps that was just a negotiation tactic.
Anyhow, thank you all for the advice, you have been very helpful!
Flattery is no substitute for an adequate salary and appropriate working conditions.
Keep looking.
You're right. What boggles my mind is the fact that they interviewed "a very sweet candidate with work permit and experience who is happy with the salary"... they have never met me, I have yet to get a work permit and I don't have nanny-specific experience... why are they even still talking to me then? At this point, I would have expected her to say good luck and goodbye to me.
Because the 'very sweet candidate' is a figment of a deeply manipulative and exploitative imagination?
Good luck in your job hunt. There must be better and more trustworthy employers out there.
Did I understand correctly that they never met you, and vice versa?? That sounds odd considering you will be caring for the most important things they have....their children. They seem only concerned with the financials.
How did it turn out?
that is only for an AU PAIR, not for a NANNY. Nannies, can work normally 50 hours per week, and the salary will depend on experience and qualifications. For qualify nanny it is normally 30 gross per hour.
They are pricing a nanny below having a single child in full time childcare. I pay 2400chf a month for 5 day a week care from 7:30am - 5pm, 48 weeks a year. Thats standard childcare rates in Switzerland. And you can't take a sick child to childcare, and it's group care...
As a trained childcare worker the base salary would be around 5000chf a month. Untrained maybe 3500 - 4000. That's for a 42 hour working week, sick leave (as a nanny you will be under great pressure not to take sick days), holidays, guaranteed working conditions, and flexibility. Oh, and also on my conditions I do 20% outside of the classroom, which gives 'release' from the pressure of being 100% available to small children...
If the position was live-in I could understand a lower salary - but live-out you need about 1000chf a month for your housing costs. Assuming all else is equal, what you are being offered is waaaay too low - 2500 a month is only 15chf an hour. 3000 is not significantly better...
Base salary in Switzerland I have been told is around 20chf an hour. Casual work more like 30 an hour. And caring full time for an 11 month old is not easy work, when it's 100%. You can't live on that salary. Living off your boyfriend is a short-term solution...and leaves you extremely tight if something happens with him or your work situation...
Do you have experience/qualifications/training ? Are you degree or tertiary qualified in any area ? Why put yourself in a 'black hole' job - you could do much better to land a job working somewhere that you will be better integrated into the local community, or working part time and studying part time to get ahead.
Caring for children is extremely tiring. If you've not done it before, I'd definitely not agree to a 50 hour a week position.
Nannying is a notoriously underpaid profession, especially for thos who have professional childcare qualifications. Employers are often also rather demanding with wanting extra unexpected hours of work that show little consideration for any private life and commitments that the caregivers may have. (eg: "we will be a little late tonight...")
If you are not being provided with accomodation ( and meals) then have a look at what it is going to cost you to be paying rent in Switzerland. Also, for a comparison, it could be useful to find out how much you would be paid if you were employed in a Swiss childcare centre ( full time equals 40 hours per week).
Just noticed someone revived a very old thread - I think the original poster has long-gone....
Never mind, it's still all very relevant if you are a nanny or au-pair seeking information how it works on here in Switzerland.
Unless you got soemthing else, take it, learn German and look for something else later on; it's always easier to find a job if you already have one !
please note that 50hrs/week include lunch break: it's not mandatory for a nanny to have lunch break