VA FAMILIES ** Can you ask your au pairs to write short letters of support for the program?

[Anonymous]

As someone who has always paid $10 hr and been called a troll, a liar, etc on this board... this is delicious.

[Anonymous]

So for the record, au pairs are currently paid the federal minimum wage (same as the VA minimum wage) x the max number of hours in a week less a 40% deduction for room and board, which is a mandatory.
$7.25 x 45 x .6 = $195.75.
The issue is that states like MA are telling parents to follow both the state regs for DWBOR, as well as follow all of the federal regs for the J1 visa. So they MUST provide room and board, but can only deduct about $77 per week for room & board. They must also pay employment tax, etc.
So you can pay a nanny $15 per hour and they can provide their own car, own phone and pay for their own rent and utilities.
Or if you stay with the program in MA, you can pay $15/hr, pay for their room and board and still likely have to provide the car, phone, etc since they are here for just a short period of time. And have the joy of paying the roughly $8,000 annual fee to the agency.
But in truth, the J1 visa program still likely provides more safety for an au pair than your average nanny -- even with DWBOR. How many nannies walk into a job where every adult in the house has had a criminal background check? How many have local mediators and a job placement program in place if something goes wrong? Our a 24 hour line to call if there are problems?
I actually support a DWBOR, but that with the J1 visa combined will kill the program for all but the richest people in MA.
I read a post from a military mom whose husband is deploying and she may have to quit her job if the program dissolves in VA.
Another post was from a single mom back in school and trying to make ends meet. The au pair program has allowed her to fulfill career dreams and provide for her family.
It would be wonderful if there were more flexible programs that covered before school care -- not just after school care. In our area, the demand FAR exceeds the supply. This should be part of a larger discussion in this country that child care needs have not kept up with family realities. This is not the 1950s where mom is a SAHM.
Our au pairs have room, board, phone, utilities, car, car insurance, etc covered. $200 a week at the age of 20 after all the bills are covered is way more than I had in my pocket after I covered my bills post-college in my first couple jobs.
And many au pairs see this program for what it is -- one (maybe two) year(s) away to learn a culture, bond with a family, improve their English and have some adventures. This is not the same as a professional nanny job.

So for those that have treated their au pairs well and had wonderful relationships with them, ask them to write a note.

[jsteele]

https://www.dcurbanmom.com/nanny-forum/posts/list/45/359911.page