Reply to Au Pair just asked for more money

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]This is quite shocking, since we are talking about a minimum wage and/or a number of hours that allow for meaningful education/cultural exchange. 45 hrs/wk leaves little free time. $4.35/hr is a pittance, it’s barely over half a federal minimum which is incredibly low, a third or less of DMV state minimum. That is after 40% is taken off for room and board where only $77 per week max is allowed (nearly a double is taken out by these families each week). I paid au pairs $12/hr over a decade ago. How come no one hosting has said hey maybe I should take another look instead of just swinging at any fair wage advocates? The reality is: at MA standard, au pair is a cultural exchange program with significant differences and benefits (depending what you want) from other live in childcare and is still very considerably cheaper to allow for the cultural exchange and educational aspect!

So now, I ask myself, if I’m an au pair, maybe I’m ok with it, even happy, since I’ve got a J1 (many unmarried young women are rejected for tourist visas routinely) and an experience. But if I’m now told that’s a fraction of a federal minimum and even smaller fraction of a state minimum, you should get 2-3x that and the same other benefits, I’d say no, that’s a terrible idea?! No, I’d say, thank you — no one, not the agency, not my host family, not the other au pairs told me that, but that’s even better! And it’s the only fair thing and you all know it. I know that as a host family we would be very happy to comply.

It is pointless to debate further, but at least we’ve learned people in one of the wealthiest parts of the world, who have no reason not to, will still not do the right thing without the legislation. The legislation is pending, so let’s write to our reps and make sure it happens. Thank you, Mrs. Vice President for introducing the bill in the Congress, and the Supreme Court for rejecting you hear the appeal to the MA ruling. We are a step closer to correcting some historical injustices. [/quote]

Since when does 45 hours leave little free time?!  Most Americans work at least 40 hours, and with a commute, most are out of the house for work over 45 hours.  An AP’s commute is several yards, from their bed to their bedroom door![/quote]

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