Anonymous
Post 05/25/2022 15:05     Subject: Au Pair - Asking for more than the stipend?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I think things have gotten harder for families since Covid. Fewer APs are willing to come to the US, so they can be pickier. Also agencies have changed to a matching system rather than giving 75% of the matching power to families like they used to do. Also SM has made APs more knowledgeable about what is potentially out there.


What is SM?


Social media
Anonymous
Post 05/25/2022 14:28     Subject: Au Pair - Asking for more than the stipend?
Everyone I know with APs pays $250-350, the higher end if you plan to use all 45 hours.

Imagine trying to live in this area on under $10hr when a gallon of gas is your take home pay for one hour of work.
Anonymous
Post 05/25/2022 12:37     Subject: Re:Au Pair - Asking for more than the stipend?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Yes, we've paid higher than the required stipend for years. We live in an expensive area and expect our au pairs to do a great job. We pay them accordingly.


Is this legal? I would think the company the au pair was recruited by would be upset that it is not getting it's cut.

Of course. The minimum stipend is the minimum, not the maximum. The agency still gets its standard fee. Read the rules.
Anonymous
Post 05/25/2022 12:31     Subject: Re:Au Pair - Asking for more than the stipend?
Anonymous wrote:Yes, we've paid higher than the required stipend for years. We live in an expensive area and expect our au pairs to do a great job. We pay them accordingly.


Is this legal? I would think the company the au pair was recruited by would be upset that it is not getting it's cut.
Anonymous
Post 05/25/2022 12:24     Subject: Au Pair - Asking for more than the stipend?
Anonymous wrote:I think things have gotten harder for families since Covid. Fewer APs are willing to come to the US, so they can be pickier. Also agencies have changed to a matching system rather than giving 75% of the matching power to families like they used to do. Also SM has made APs more knowledgeable about what is potentially out there.


What is SM?
Anonymous
Post 05/25/2022 12:18     Subject: Au Pair - Asking for more than the stipend?
I think things have gotten harder for families since Covid. Fewer APs are willing to come to the US, so they can be pickier. Also agencies have changed to a matching system rather than giving 75% of the matching power to families like they used to do. Also SM has made APs more knowledgeable about what is potentially out there.
Anonymous
Post 05/25/2022 11:44     Subject: Re:Au Pair - Asking for more than the stipend?
Anonymous wrote:If you are using all 45 hours with an infant, you need to pay more. No one will stick around for that deal unless you also are offering vacation houses in Aspen and Hawaii. Don't be cheap.


This seems extreme. Several of our friends in the DMV started with au pairs at the infant stage - no special perks, and all 45 hours used up. At least two of the au pairs we've met are absolutely fantastic and are not paid over and above the rate.
Anonymous
Post 05/25/2022 11:42     Subject: Re:Au Pair - Asking for more than the stipend?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Yes, we've paid higher than the required stipend for years. We live in an expensive area and expect our au pairs to do a great job. We pay them accordingly.


Thank you for the response. A few questions. Are you in the DMV? How much higher have you paid? Do you wait to see how they do in the home and then increase it or offer a higher rate at the outset? Is the extra rate for extra work?

We've paid between $250-300/wk for a few years now. We base it on the number of hours we expect the au pair to work and the state of covid (i.e., if they are locked down we pay more since they are having a crappier experience).

We also give a raise if the au pair extends for a 2nd year and a completion bonus for finishing out their full agreed term.


Thank you. Do you have multiple children? I would be more willing to increase for that - at the moment ours will be an infant so though requiring all of the hours, not as labor intensive as a toddler.

We have 2 kids, elementary age.

I'd expect to pay more for an infant. You'll need to find someone who's both infant qualified and exceptionally trustworthy. I'd also consider infants to be very labor intensive. Personally I'd never use an au pair for an infant. They're a good choice starting around the preschool ages. Too much can go wrong with a little one.


What did you use for an infant? Nanny?
We used a nanny and/or daycare for our infants. Au Pairs are better for school aged kids.
Anonymous
Post 05/25/2022 11:41     Subject: Re:Au Pair - Asking for more than the stipend?
If you are using all 45 hours with an infant, you need to pay more. No one will stick around for that deal unless you also are offering vacation houses in Aspen and Hawaii. Don't be cheap.
Anonymous
Post 05/25/2022 11:41     Subject: Re:Au Pair - Asking for more than the stipend?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Yes, we've paid higher than the required stipend for years. We live in an expensive area and expect our au pairs to do a great job. We pay them accordingly.


Thank you for the response. A few questions. Are you in the DMV? How much higher have you paid? Do you wait to see how they do in the home and then increase it or offer a higher rate at the outset? Is the extra rate for extra work?

We've paid between $250-300/wk for a few years now. We base it on the number of hours we expect the au pair to work and the state of covid (i.e., if they are locked down we pay more since they are having a crappier experience).

We also give a raise if the au pair extends for a 2nd year and a completion bonus for finishing out their full agreed term.


Thank you. Do you have multiple children? I would be more willing to increase for that - at the moment ours will be an infant so though requiring all of the hours, not as labor intensive as a toddler.

We have 2 kids, elementary age.

I'd expect to pay more for an infant. You'll need to find someone who's both infant qualified and exceptionally trustworthy. I'd also consider infants to be very labor intensive. Personally I'd never use an au pair for an infant. They're a good choice starting around the preschool ages. Too much can go wrong with a little one.


What did you use for an infant? Nanny?
Anonymous
Post 05/25/2022 11:39     Subject: Au Pair - Asking for more than the stipend?
Anonymous wrote:Don't do it. There was a time where the stock of aupairs we're limited. But now it's balanced


Ideally we don't want to start at a higher rate. We'd rather reward once she's here - but of course, would like to secure a good au pair that meets our needs given this is our first child.
Anonymous
Post 05/25/2022 11:39     Subject: Re:Au Pair - Asking for more than the stipend?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Yes, we've paid higher than the required stipend for years. We live in an expensive area and expect our au pairs to do a great job. We pay them accordingly.


Thank you for the response. A few questions. Are you in the DMV? How much higher have you paid? Do you wait to see how they do in the home and then increase it or offer a higher rate at the outset? Is the extra rate for extra work?

We've paid between $250-300/wk for a few years now. We base it on the number of hours we expect the au pair to work and the state of covid (i.e., if they are locked down we pay more since they are having a crappier experience).

We also give a raise if the au pair extends for a 2nd year and a completion bonus for finishing out their full agreed term.


Thank you. Do you have multiple children? I would be more willing to increase for that - at the moment ours will be an infant so though requiring all of the hours, not as labor intensive as a toddler.

We have 2 kids, elementary age.

I'd expect to pay more for an infant. You'll need to find someone who's both infant qualified and exceptionally trustworthy. I'd also consider infants to be very labor intensive. Personally I'd never use an au pair for an infant. They're a good choice starting around the preschool ages. Too much can go wrong with a little one.
Anonymous
Post 05/25/2022 11:38     Subject: Re:Au Pair - Asking for more than the stipend?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Yes, we've paid higher than the required stipend for years. We live in an expensive area and expect our au pairs to do a great job. We pay them accordingly.


Thank you for the response. A few questions. Are you in the DMV? How much higher have you paid? Do you wait to see how they do in the home and then increase it or offer a higher rate at the outset? Is the extra rate for extra work?

We've paid between $250-300/wk for a few years now. We base it on the number of hours we expect the au pair to work and the state of covid (i.e., if they are locked down we pay more since they are having a crappier experience).

We also give a raise if the au pair extends for a 2nd year and a completion bonus for finishing out their full agreed term.


Same. We've paid $250 for the last 3 years.


Thank you for sharing. Can you provide a bit more detail on your circumstances? Multiple children? Extensive duties?
Anonymous
Post 05/25/2022 11:37     Subject: Au Pair - Asking for more than the stipend?
Also, I didn't realize German au pairs were so desired or that Germany produced in the top three au pairs by volume.
Anonymous
Post 05/25/2022 11:37     Subject: Re:Au Pair - Asking for more than the stipend?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Yes, we've paid higher than the required stipend for years. We live in an expensive area and expect our au pairs to do a great job. We pay them accordingly.


Thank you for the response. A few questions. Are you in the DMV? How much higher have you paid? Do you wait to see how they do in the home and then increase it or offer a higher rate at the outset? Is the extra rate for extra work?

We've paid between $250-300/wk for a few years now. We base it on the number of hours we expect the au pair to work and the state of covid (i.e., if they are locked down we pay more since they are having a crappier experience).

We also give a raise if the au pair extends for a 2nd year and a completion bonus for finishing out their full agreed term.


Same. We've paid $250 for the last 3 years.